VOL. XXVIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ^"J 



any European who understands pharmacy, if he had but a sufficient quantity of 

 it to make such trials as are necessary, to examine the nature of it chemically, 

 and to apply it in a proper quantity, according to the nature of the disease for 

 which it may be beneficial. 



It is certain that it subtilizes, increases the motion of, and warms, the blood; 

 that it helps digestion, and invigorates in a very sensible manner. After I had 

 drawn the root, as above-mentioned, I observed the state of my pulse, and 

 then took half the root, raw as it was and unprepared; an hour after, I found 

 my pulse much fuller and quicker; I had an appetite, and found myself much 

 more vigorous, and could bear labour better than before. But I did not rely 

 on this trial alone, imagining that this alteration might proceed from the rest 

 that we had that day; but 4 days after, finding myself so fatigued and weary 

 that I could scarcely sit on horseback, a mandarin, who was in company with 

 us, perceiving it, gave me one of these roots; I took half of it immediately, 

 and an hour after I was not the least sensible of any weariness. I have often 

 made use of it since, and always with the same success. I have observed also, 

 that the green leaves, and especially the fibrous part of them chewed, would 

 produce nearly the same effect. The Tartars often bring us the leaves of gin- 

 seng instead of tea; and I always find myself so well afterwards, that I should 

 readily prefer them before the best tea. Their "decoction is of a grateful colour; 

 and when one has taken it twice or thrice, its taste and smell become very- 

 pleasant. 



As for the root of this plant, it is necessary to boil it a little more than tea, 

 to allow time for extracting its virtue; as is practised by the Chinese, when 

 they give it to sick persons, on which occasion they seldom use more than the 

 5th part of an ounce of the dried root. But as for those that are in health, 

 and take it only for prevention, or some slight indisposition, I would advise 

 them not to make less than 10 doses of an ounce, and not to take of it every 

 day. It is thus prepared: the root is to be cut into thin slices, and put into an 

 earthen pot, well glazed, and filled with about a quarter of a pint of water 

 Paris measure: the pot must be well covered, and set to boil over a gentle 

 fire ; and when the water is consumed to the quantity of a cupful, a little 

 sugar is to be mixed with it, and so drank immediately. After this, as much 

 more water is to be put on the remainder in the pot, and to be boiled as before, 

 to extract all the juice, and what remains of the spirituous part of the root. 

 These two doses are to be taken, one in the morning, and the other at night. 



As to the places where this root grows, it is in general between the SQth and 

 47th deg. of north lat. and between the 10th and 20th deg. of east long, from 

 the meridian of Pekin. There is a long tract of mountains, which the thick 



VOL. VI. I 



