132 PRESENT STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY. 



are occasions on which the Chinese resort to this drug. 

 Several cases in which life would seem to have been 

 at least prolonged by the taking of doses of this drug, 

 so as to allow of intelligent disposition of property, 

 indicate that some positive efficacy of a sustaining 

 character does really exist in this species of ivywort. 

 The leaves are sold in bundles of the green, fragrant, 

 excellently preserved foliage of the plant. They are 

 said to be emetic and expectorant in their effects.' 



"In Korea the cultivated ginseng is smaller than 

 the wild or 'san-sam literally 'mountain' ginseng 

 the root of which attains a length of a foot or more 

 and a diameter of an inch and upward. It is said that 

 when this wild root is administered (always at a single 

 dose), the patient loses consciousness for a greater or 

 less time, and for about a month is tortured by boils, 

 eruptions, sleeplessness, and other ills. Rejuvenation 

 then begins, the skin becomes clear, the body healthy, 

 and the person will live, such is the belief, exempt from 

 disease for many years. They think it acts as a pre- 

 ventive by toning up the system. 



"Mr. George C. Foulk remarks in Foreign Rela- 

 tions of the United States, 1885 : 



" 'The extreme rarity of san-sam augments the 

 superstitious repute in which it is held; as an intelli- 

 gent Korean told me, much is said that is only words ; 

 nevertheless, he maintained that san-sam was a won- 

 derful medicine in its strengthening effects.' 



"It is apparent that the Chinese faith in ginseng 

 rests largely on fanciful grounds, since they prefer 

 roots which, in a measure, resemble the human form. 

 A rude likeness of this kind is frequently discernible, 

 which is said to be increased by manipulation. The 

 name itself signifies 'man plant.' An analogous case 

 is that of the mandrake of the Mediterranean region, 

 long esteemed potent for a similar reason. The root 

 appears to be differently employed according to the 



