OCR Text |
Show GINSENG. 875 broken, exhibiting a resinous circle in the middle, ofa reddish colour. It has no smell, but a very sweet taste, combin ed with a slight degree of aromatic bitterness. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The Chinese, probably on account of its scarcity, have a very extraordinary opinion of the virtues of this root, so that it sells for many times its weight in silyer. The Americans, on the contrary, disregard it, because it is found plentifa lly in their woods. In fact, it is a gentle and agreeable stimulant. Jartoux, speaking of the effect of this plant on him, says: ‘* I observed the state of my pulse, and then tookhalf of a root raw: inan hour after I found mypulse muchfuller and quicker ; I had an appetite, and found myself much more vigorous, and could bear labour much better and easier than before. But I did not rely on this trial alone, imagining that this alterati on might proceed from the rest we had that day ; but four days GINSENG. PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. > eigen Class XXIII. Polygamia. Order Essent. Gen. Cuar. above: Bisexual flower an Umbel: x five-toothed, Corolla five-petalled: Stamina five: Styles two: Berry two- seeded. Srxrc. Cuan. Leaves in threes or fives. neste DESCRIPTION. nN . oat ° out 4 as Tus plant rises a foot. The leaves arise with the flower-st alk from a thick joint in the stem. Leaves have the appearance from their disposition of being one digitated leaf, on short purplefootstalks, one on along footstalk, all fixed to a common petiolus, veined, serrated, pointed, smooth. Flowers small, forming a small round umbel. HIsTory. This is a perennial plant, which grows in Tartary and North America, flowering with us in June. The root is about the thickness of the little finger ; an inch or two in length, often dividing into two branches ; of a whitish yellowcolour, wrinkled on the surface; of a compact, almost horny texture; when after, finding myself so fatigued and weary that I could scarce sit on horseback, a mandarin who was in companywith us per. ceiving it, gave me one of these roots; I took half of it imme. diately, and an hour after I was not the least sensible of any weariness. I have often made use of it since, and always with the same success. I have observed also, that the green leaves, and especially the fibrous parts of them, chewed, would produce nearly the same effect.”"—Phil. Trans. vol. xxviii. Pp. 239. The dose is from a scruple to a drachm, |