The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-06-26
CHINESE CURE ALL.
Ginseng is Worth Its Weight in
Gold in Far Cathay.
Celestials Believe the Root Has
Miraculous Qualities.

/
scribing for patients, but in China, for
centuries ii has been considered MS
possessing miraculous healing and in
vigorating properties. In the Chi
nese army ii 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 this aud other States, aud is col
lected annually Mt this season, is ofthe
order azalea quinquo folium. II is
both perennial and an annual, and
sends up smooth round stem about
twelve inches high. The fruit is
kidney shaped scarlet berry, and is
divided at the summit into three leaf
stalks, each of which supports a COM
pressed leaf, consisting of five or more
petals The leaves are oblong, obo-
vate, acuminate oviates, and the flow
ers that come from the plant are small,
of greenish color, and are supported
by pcduncle which rises from the
top of the stem in the centre of the
petioles. The fruit has two and some
times three seeds. The plant is indi-
genous, and grows in the shelter of
thick and shady woods. In appear
ance it somewhat resembles sarsapa-
rilla. The taste of the root is muci-
faginous, sweetish, bitter, and has n
slight flavor of licorice. tits aromatic.
DIR. james Lockhart, medical
missionary in China and an authority
on Chinese medicines, mentions that
the ginseng root collected in China is
imperial property, aud 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 $500 or 800 chinese
ounce. The collection of it was pro-
hibited at one period because of its
scarcity.
While its value is something unpre-
cedented, it must be remembered that
the average root is only from two to
four inches long and very light. DIR.
Lock hart tells of visit he made to
ginseng merchant in Pekin who dis
played to him the precious roots,
which were contained in long lead-
lined box. Each root was kept in
silk wrapper in silken boxes. Less
expensive roots were kept in cotton
wrappers, AMI a cheaper variety yet
in paper wrappers. A big box held
the small boxes and was filed with
parcels of quicklime to keep the at
mosp ere dry. The merchant would
not let his visitor handle or breathe
upon the costly drag, but he expti-
ated upon its merits and the wonder
full cures it had affected.
One of the holiday customs Of the
wealthier class of Cinnamon is to make
presents of the "cure all" root to their
friend. With it they send q 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 a small space
or 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 isfrom 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 human 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 miraculous curative qualities,
according to observers in China. are
largely depended 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
assumer a hard, resinous and trans
lucent appearance, which is deemed
proof of its good quality. The older
the root the more superior the Chin
ese think it to be. New York Herald.