Chinese Universal Medicines. — Tlie Ginseng. 439 



that the dose as it comes from the shop resembles those 

 small wax- cakes used by house- wives for waxing their thread. 

 One such cake contains four or six pills, called Tsi-pdu-tan, 

 or very costly pills, which are used as a sort of universal 

 specific against fevers, affections of the digestive organs, 

 headaches, &c. &c. 



The most valuable and costl}^ article in the Chinese 

 pharmacopoeia is, however, the Ginseng [Panax Ginseng, or 

 Panax Quinquefolia), which is chiefly found in Mantchooria 

 and the deserts to the north of the peninsula of Corea. The 

 circumstance that the Ginseng is still a monopoly of the 

 Chinese Government, only a few privileged individuals 

 being annually permitted to purchase a certain quantity for 

 its weight in pure gold, has much more to do with its 

 efficacy as a panacea than the benefits conferred by its cura- 

 tive powers. The roots are about the size and thickness 

 of a man's little finger, and break short off when bent. 

 When cleaned they are transparent, and of a dark amber 

 colour. 



Of the Ginseng there are tliree qualities sold in the Chinese 

 di'ug-stores. One leang or ounce of the best (the largest and 

 finest) costs 50 dollars, of the medium quality five dollars, 

 and of the most inferior quality one dollar. Tlie Ginseng 

 root is also found in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Canada, 

 and is thence exported to China, but the Chinese prefer that 

 of their- native forests, even though these are very much 

 dearer, and there is hardly any difference to remark between 



