The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-07
CHINA's MIRACLE DRUG
A Root Used in the Army Worth
It's Weight in Gold.
Ginseng and Its High Place Among
the Medicines OF the Mongolians
Its Strong Resemblance to tho
Mandrake of Scripture.

Ginseng is very little used by the
medical men of this country in pre-
scribing for patients, but in China for
centuries it has been considered as
possessing miraculous healing and in
vigorating properties. In the Chinese
army it takes the place of quinine in
bracing up the soldiers
1t belongs to the genus panaX, or
au-curing plants, but the American
species, which grows wild in the woods
of certain of our states, and is col
lected annually at this season. is of the
order avalea 4uinque folium. 1t is
both perennial and an annual, and
sends up IL smooth, round stem about
twelve inches high. The fruit is a
kidney-shaped scarlet berry, and is di-
vidcd at the summit into three leaf
stalks, each of which supports COM
pressed leaf consisting of five or more
petals. The leaves are oblong, obo-
vate, acuminate oviates, and the flow
crs that come from the plant are small,
of grcenish color, and are supported
by peduncle which rises from the top
of the stem in the center of the
petioles. The fruit has two, and some
times three, seeds. The plant is indig-
enous and'grows in the shelter of thick
and shady woods. In appearance ii
somewhat resembles sarsaparilla The
taste of the root is mucilaginous,
swcetish, bitter, and has slight
flavor of licorice. 1t is aromatic.
DR.. james Lochhart, Il medical mis-
sionary in China, and an authority on
Chinese medicines, mentions that the
ginseng root collected in China is i'm
perial property, and is sold to those
who have the privilege of dealing in it
at its weight in gold. At one time it
commanded fabulous prices, the finest
qualities, which are obtained from
Manchuria and Corea, fetching as
much as three hundred and four hun
dred dollars Chinese ounce. The col
lection of it was prohibited at one pc
Rod because of it's scarcity
While it's value is something unpreo-
cdented, 1t must be remembered that
the average root is only from two to
four inches long and very light. DIR.
Lockhart tells of visit he made to
ginseng merchant in Picking who dis
played to him the precious roots,
which were contained in a small lead
lined box. Each root was kept in a
silk wrapper in silken-covered boxes.
Less expensive roots were kept in cot
ton wrappers, and cheaper variety
yet in paper wrappers. a big box
held the small boxes, and was filled
with parcels Of quicflime to keep the
atmosphere dry. The merchant would
not let his visitor handle or breathe
upon the costly drug, but he eXpati-
ated upon it's merits and the wonder
full cures it had effected.
One of the holiday customs of the
weather. class of Cinnamon is to make
presents of the 'curc-all" root to their
friends. With it they send dainty
double kettle in which the medicine is
prepared for use. A silver kettle is
suspended inside the outer, which is
copper-lined, by a ring, and between
the two vessels there is small space
for holding water. In the silver one is
placed the ginseng with water. The
cover has cup-shaped vessel on it,
and in this is put rice with little
water. When the rice is cooked the
ginseng is ready.
a dose is from sixty to ninety grains.
The tea of the root is also drunk at the
same time the patient swallows the
drug.
The name of the root in the Chinese
language is schinseng, signifying the
trunk of hu man body, and Grosier,
the scientist, says that this. is because
the root, which is divided into two
branches from the main trunk, bears
resemblance to mans thigh. 1t is
likened to the mandrake of Scripture,
and it's mir aculous curative qualities,
according to observers in China. are
largely dependent on the faith of the
followers of Confucius
Sometimes in preserving the root it
is kept for three days in fresh water,
or water in which rice has been boiled,
and it is then suspended for three days
over fire and afterward dried, until
from the base to the middle it assumes
a hard, resinous and translucent APP
pcarance, which is deemed proof of it's
good quality. The older the root the
more superior the Chinese think it to be.