The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-05-17
American Physicians Find But
Little Use For Ginseng.
MUCH is HANDLED HERE
"SENG" DlGGERS REAP A RlCr
HARVEST DIGGING THE ROOT
DURING SPRING AND
SUMMER.


asked, although great deal OF this
peculiar plant is grown and gathered
in Tennessee, West Kentucky and
southern Illinois, and much of it la
brought TO Cairo for rehandlng, Few
persons know the real value Of il.
Why Is it that il is SO highly cz-
teemed by all Chinese, who will pay
fabulous prices for the roots that are
raised here ana imported to China?
# is said thar the Chinese use it MS IN
aatidote fer the evil effects of opium.
but this has never been proven.
It is well known fact. however.
that the ginseng industry in this state
is rather an important one. There Is
nearly million dollars worth Of this
peculiar root consumed by the Chi
nese and others every year, and the
greater part of it comes from the
United States, Tennessee furnishing
more than any other state in the
union Why ii is that the Celestial
prizes ginseng SO is not known. but ii
is fact that he viii pay for il as
cheerfu!ly as he does his beloved opi,
am, some wealthy Cinnamon buying
the rare and expensive roots that are
lug in the northern part of China
paying as much as SEQ a pound for II
In the western provinces of China
there is a variety raised that cost only
SIS per pound, but the greater part or
the root used by them comes frcm
America and is cheaper, selling for
$3.50 to $3.50 a pound, according to
the range Of the market
All over The barren lands Of this
state 1t can be seen growing but un-
less You are botanist or sang
digger the average man would ret
know it from { weed.
Digging ginseng is a regular bus.
ness among a certain class of people
who lis the roots, dry and cure them
ana snip them 20 Cairo, Memphis.
New Orleans ana Charleston me~-
chants and brokers. BY them Ii IL
disposed of to Chinese agents, lust al
opium Is sold to the almond-eyed sons
9f the doWery kingdom Many drug
gists purchase it in small lots. though
the Chinese are the principal buyers.
In the sDrius before the sap rises in
The ginseng plant the sang" diggels
are out in force. They take the plants
up by the roots and lay them bv 70
cure. Il is not a hard life and these
men, when the market is up can make
good living through the brokers
getting as high as 1915 a pound for
the stuff
AS has been stated. the value or y,r. +
tue Of the plant has always been con.
silerel as a mystery, for the pharma. (
cautical authorities assert that as a
medicinal or remedial agent 1t has
largely imaginary and fictitious value. +
Considering the value set upon fl
and the amount sold even from Ken.
lucky. Tennessee and Illinois alone
ID is o remarkable thing.
The root when dried is not unli.e
Hcorice. but has a peculiar pungrnf
aromatic taste, not unpleasant but al.
together indescribable. The best an.
say that the name comes
from the Chinese "gin SEN" meaning
the first 81 plants. The English is
ginseng. the German "ein scho. Az
cording to the dictionaries of moli.
cine and pharmacy il is known az roo
of he plnax ginseng. aromatic horn.
said to be of value i'm dyspcpsia and
used by the Chinese in diseases III
bodily weakness. II belongs to the wv
wort family.
Physicians in this country say that
!. Is Of little value: your Chinaman
tells yon that by making n nuid ex.
tract from Il he gets n tonic that y
powerful Ii Is 20 powerful. II Is said
that it win overcome that deadly
and iaee,tnda prodpcod ty
the exec ssive use %. opium clearing
tho brain ana STRENGTHENING tho mps.
cles temporarily The Chinese doc.
tors claim that # IS one Of the great.
est tonics they use. giving man an
appetite and new vigor.
If this is really the caso n can 10
whv thew nav such fancy
prices for the roots The AVERAGE
Chlnamsn Invariably "hlts the nine .
{yben ia ..,l,,,,-c,,. -, 80, - -