04 PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. 
belliferous vegetables, from which they differ in 
their berried fruit. The genus most near to Pa- 
nax is unquestionably Jralia, which differs only 
in the number of styles, a character extremely va- 
riable in the Ginsengs.* 
The root of the Ginseng has an agrocahii 
taste, consisting of a mixture of sweet and bitter, 
with some aromatic /pungency. Water, both cold 
and hot, receives a gummy mucus, which i is pre- 
cipitated by alcohol. The watery extract has the 
taste and smell of the root in a strong degree. 
The distilled water gives evidence of a volatile oil, 
and has the aroma, without the sweetness of the 
root. The common tests indicate. the presence 
of but little resin, and no tannin. 
As far as Ginseng has been tried medicinally 
in this country, and in Europe, its virtues do not 
appear, by any means, to. justify the high estima- 
tion of it by the Chinese. That it is not a very 
active substance, is proved by the fact, that a 
whole root may be eaten without inconvenience. 
Its place in the materia medica is among demul- 
cents. It approaches more nearly to liquorice, 
than to-any other medicine in its taste and exter- 
* Panax trifolium, a a beautiful little plant, with neatly the herb of 
Anemone nemorosa, has always three styles and a tricoccous ber- 
ry. P.quinquefolium varies from one to three styles, though the 
usual number is two. 
