VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 465 



malacia, insect and scorpion bites, and the decoction as a 

 wash in inflamed eyes. The leaves have similar virtnes, and 

 in addition to the uses already indicated, are used as a 

 prophylactic. 



ZINGIBER OFFICINALE.—^ (Chiang), 574. In the 

 Pentsao this is given in two articles, one on ^ ^ (Sheng- 

 chiang), "fresh ginger," and the other on ^ ^ (Kan-chiang), 

 "dry ginger." Originally, the whole was discus.sed under 

 the latter title, but Li Shi-chen, for some reason best known to 

 himself, separated them in this manner, and discusses under 

 Sh^ng-chiaug |£ ^ ^ (Kan-sheng-chiang), "dry fresh fin- 

 ger." He does not succeed in making out any essential dif- 

 ference between the two articles discussed. The character 

 Chiang is explained by |^ (Chiang), which would indicate that 

 ginger was not originally a native product, but came from the 

 Mongolian borders. The product is very well described iu 

 the Pentsao. It is largely cultivated in the central provinces, 

 and is much eaten in the green state as a condiment and 

 corrective. That grown in the southern provinces is much 

 less mucilaginous than that grown in the Yangtse valley, and 

 consequently is better adapted for making preserves and sweet- 

 meats. Most of the preserved ginger found in the market, 

 therefore, comes from the south. It is called |f ^ (T'ang- 

 chiang). Dry ginger, such as is tonnd in the west, is not 

 easily made from the Chinese root, as the skin does not readily 

 separate by maceration. What is known as dry ginger in 

 China occurs in flat pieces, of an inch in length, much 

 shrivelled and wrinkled. The taste is much inferior to that 

 from the West Indies and other gingers. The fresh ginger is 

 used to correct fetor, stimulate the digestive organs, quiet 

 nausea, check cough, and act as a carminative and astringent 

 remedy in dysentery. It is also thought to overcome the poison 

 of mushrooms. The dried ginger has similar properties, and 

 is also used in urinary difficulties, hemorrhages, constipation, 

 and perverted lochia. The ginger skin, ^ jf^ (Chiang-p'i), 

 77, is also used as a carminative remedy and in opacity of the 

 cornea. The ginger leaves are bruised and the juice used as a 

 digestive stimulant and as a local application in ecchymoses. 



