GINSENG. ANGLO-CRIN. The famed gin seng substances are known to- the Chinese as Jin-san, Liau-san, Hwang-san, Shin-tsan, Kwan tung-jin-san, and Kwan-si-jin-san. The Dutch call it Kraft Wurzel, and the Tartars, Ohrota. That obtained in the provinces of Shen-si, Peh chih-li, and Shing-king is the product of the Panax ginseng, Meyer. part of this drug is obtained from the Nepal plant, Panax pseudo ginseng, IValliell ; and the P. quinquefolium, which is largely used in Central China, is the American ginseng. The Shing-king plant, called Kwan-tung-jin-san, is ahnost an imperial mono poly. A plant called Tang-san, which seems to be cultivated in Corea or Peh-chilt-li, and substi tuted for the true ginseng, seems to be a species of Campanula or Adenophora. Corean ginseng ranks next after the Kwan-tung-jin-san of Man churia,—in fact, constitutes the only available drug in the hands of traders. This, however, is often adulterated with Japanese ginseng, which again is often adulterated with roots of Campanula glauca, etc. The Manchtiria wild ginseng is care fully searched for by the Manchu. The pieces, after easeful trinuning with a bamboo knife, and drying in still air, are made to assume something of the form of the human body or miniature human hand. They are yellowish, semi-trans parent, firm, brittle to some extent, and of a sweet mucilaginous taste, inclining to bitterness. It is easily injured by damp and worms, and great care is taken to pre.serve the true Manchurian plant. It is prepared as au extract or as a decoction, and always in silver vessels; It is prescribed in almost every kind of disease of a severe character, but the stage of each disease in which it is administered is carefully distinguished. It is given in all forms of debility, spermatorrInea, asthma, hemorrhages, severe dyspepsia, vomiting of pregnant women, chronic malarious affections, and the typhoid stages of epidemic fever ; and its effects apparently are of au alterative, tonic, stimulant, carminative, and demulcent nature.
Dr. Smith observes that some positive efficacy of a sustaining character does really exist in this species of ivywort. The leaves are sold in bundles, and are said to be emetic and expectorant.
The ginseng that comes to Shang-hai, chiefly from Corea and Tartary, is carefully protected from the air, and sells at from 6 dollars to 300 and even 400 dollars the ounce.
Ginseng, Ba.stard, Shang-tung-jin-san, CHIN., Tang-san, CHIN., is obtained from the roots of several species of Adcnophora, Campanula, Phy tensile, and Platycodon, which are largely used to adulterate and as substitutes for the genuine ginseng ; but the Japanese seem to prize the roots of Campanula glance as highly as the true gin seng. Also the virttesi of the true ginseng aro exhausted, and the now svorthless root re-sold. Plants of Shan-si and other Chinese provinces, called by the Chinese Tang-san, also Fang-tang san, also Lu-tang, also Ch'uen-tang, and Ming tang, aro often substituted for ginseng.
Ginseng, Black.
Ifeh-san; iliuen-san, Cam I Yuen-san, . . Cm's.
This Chinese plant is grown in lio-chatt (Ngan hwui), and in the N. and N. W. provinces of China. Its black fleshy roots have some resemblance to ginseng ; taste raw and sweetish, with little odour, though used by incense-makers.
Ginseng, Extract of, Jin-san-kau, Cm., is mire f ully prepared in silver vessels. It is used to make the Tsai-tsau-hwan, or regenerating pills, sold at two taels a-piece in lIankow.—Sniith; Williams' Middle Kingdom, p.284 ; Sim, Com. Pro. 436-37 ; Hon. Mr. Morrison's Comp. Des. ; Lockhart, 109.