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PANA QUINQUEFOLIUM, ORD. VI. Hederacee. 15¥ 
figure was drawn’ feom’a good specimen, growing in the Royal 
Botanic garden at Kew. 
The ited root of Ginseng, as imported here, is scarcely the 
thickness of the little finger, about three or four inches long, 
frequently forked, transversely wrinkled, of a horny texture, and 
both internally and externally of a yellowish white colour. . “ To 
the taste it discovers a mucilaginous sweetness, approaching to that 
of liquorice, accompanied with some degree of bitterishness, and a 
slight aromatic warmth, with little or no smell. It is far sweeter 
and of a more grateful smell than the roots of fennel, to which it 
has by some been supposed similar; and differs likewise remarkably 
from those roots, in the nature and pharmaceutic properties of its 
active principles; the sweet matter of the Ginseng being preserved 
entire in the watery as well as the spirituous extract, whereas that 
of fennel roots is destroyed or dissipated in the inspissation of the 
watery tincture. The slight aromatic impregnation of the Ginseng 
is likewise in good measure retained in the watery extract, and 
perfectly in the spirituous.’ 
The Chinese ascribe extraordinary virtues to the root of Ginseng, 
and have long considered it as a sovereign remedy in almost all 
diseases to which they are liable, having no confidence in any 
medicine unless in combination with it. It is observed by Jartoux, 
that the most eminent Physicians in China have written volumes 
on the medicinal powers of this plant, asserting that it gives 
immediate relief in extreme fatigue, either of body or mind, 
that it dissolves pituitous humours, and renders respiration easy, 
strengthens the stomach, promotes appetite, stops vomitings, 
removes hysterical, hypochondriacal, and all nervous affections, 
and gives a vigorous tone of body, even in extreme old age.* 
These, and many other effects of this root, equally improbable 
and extravagant, are related by various authors, and Jartoux was 
so much biassed by this eastern prejudice in favour of Ginseng, 
& Lewis, M. M. p. 325. 
** L.c. See also Decker, (Exercit. pratt. p. m. 670.) 
