GINGER. 99 



or farinaceous tissue. A transverse section of the larger and 

 more perfect pieces shows an outer horny, resinous-looking zone, 

 surrounding a farinaceous centre, which has a speckled appearance 

 from the cut extremities of the fibres and ducts. The interior 

 varies like the exterior in colour : the best ginger is that which 

 cuts pale but bright. The consistence of ginger, as ascertained by 

 cutting, varies from soft to hard, or, as it is termed in trade, 

 " flinty," the soft being preferred. 



Ginger is sometimes washed in water, and then dried, prior to 

 its being offered for sale to the retailers. 



According to several text-books, the chalky- white appearance 

 of the so-called " bleached ginger " is said to be produced by 

 submitting the root to the action of the fumes of burning sulphur 

 or by washing it in a solution of chloride of lime, but it is far 

 more likely that this appearance results from a simple application 

 of common whitewash and dusting it over whilst wet with plaster 

 of Paris. Investigations in this respect were made by Garside 

 in 1874 : * 



Five samples were obtained from different shops. On two of 

 these the easily detached white powder was found to consist of 

 calcium sulphate, in one case with a trace of chloride, and in the 

 other without any. The presence of calcium disposed of the 

 supposition that sulphurous acid only was used in the bleaching 

 process. If, however, the ginger had been first steeped in solution of 

 chloride of lime and afterwards exposed to sulphurous acid fumes, 

 calcium sulphite would in all probability be formed, which, on 

 exposure to the air would become converted into sulphate. The 

 absence of any notable amount of chloride would preclude this 

 idea. The powder on the remaining three samples was found to 

 consist principally of calcium carbonate, with smaller proportions 

 of sulphate and chloride. In order to ascertain the amount, an 

 average piece of ginger was taken and the adhering mineral 

 matter separated and weighed. It amounted to 2-33 per cent, 

 of the ginger employed, and consisted of — 



Calcium chloride 4-98 



„ sulphate, with other salts 7'90 



„ carbonate 8712 



100-00 

 * Phar. Journ. [3], iv., p. 831. 



