The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-01-26
CHINA'S MIRACLE DRUG.
A Root Used in the Army Worth
It's Weight In Gold.
Ginseng and Ita High Place Amoae
the Medicines Of tho Aongollans
Its Strong Resemhlanee 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
all-curing plants, but the American
species, which grows wild in the woods
of certain OF our states,N and is col
lected annually at this season, is OF the
order avalea 4uinque folium. 1t is
both q perennial and an annual, and
sends up smooth, round stem about
twelve inches high. The fruit is a
Lidney-shapcd scarlet berry, and is di-
vided at the summit into three leaf
stalks, each of which supports q COM
pressed leaf consisting of five or more
petals. The leaves are oblong, obo-
vate, acuminate oviates, and the hOw-
ers that come from the plant are small,
of greenish color, and are supported
by 8 peduncle which rises from the top
of the stem in the center of the
times three, seeds. The plant is indig-
enous and grows in tile shelter of thick
and shady woods. In appearance it
somewhat resembles sarsaparilla. The
taste of the root is mucilaginous,
sweetish, bitter, and has slight
flavor of licorice. 1t is aromatic.
DIR. James Lockhart, medical mis-
sionary in China, and an authority on
Chinese medicines, mentions that the
ginseng root collected in China is inn
perial property, and is sold to those
who have the privilege of dealing in it
at it's 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 hum
dred dollars Chinese ounce. The col
lection of it was prohibited at one Pc
riod because of it's scarcity.
While its value is something unprec-
edented, it 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 Peking 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 a cheaper variety
yet in paper wrappers. A big box
held the small boxes, and was filed
with parcels of quicklime to keep the
dry. The merchant would
not let his visitor handle or breathe
upon the costly drug, but he expati-
ated upon its merits and the wonder
full cures it had effected.
One of the holiday customs Of the
class of Cinnamon is to make
presents of the ''cure-al" root to their
friends. With it they send dainty
double kettle in which the medicine is
for use. A silver kettle is
suspended inside the outer, which is
by 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 a cup-shaped vessel on it,
md 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
lrug.
The name of the root in the Chinese !
is schinseng, signifying the
,runk of hu man body, and Grosier,
he scientist, says that this is because /
he root, which is divided into two !
branches from the main trunk, bears
resemblance to mans thigh. 1t is
ikened to the mandrake of Scripture,
md its mir aculous curative qualities,
according to observers in China, are
argely dependent on the faith Of the
OllOwers of Confucius.
Sometimes in preserving the root it
S kept for three days in fresh water,
n water in which rice has been boiled,
nd it is then suspended for three days
,ver fire and afterward dried, until
rom the base to the middle it assumes
hard, resinous and translucent ap-
which is deemed proof Of its
,ood quality. The older the root the
more superior the Chinese think it to be.