MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. 133 



source from which it is obtained, probably somewhat 

 on real and somewhat on fictitious grounds. 'The 

 effects of the Manchurian and Korean ginseng are 

 apparently those of an alterative, tonic, stimulant, and 

 carminative nature, while the American and Japanese 

 ginseng are used as demulcent and refrigerant 

 agents/ 



"Mr. Horace N. Allen, minister resident and 

 consul-general at Seoul, Korea, writes in United 

 States Consular Reports, No. 53 : 



" 'There is certainly a difference in the effect pro- 

 duced by the use of these two roots [the American and 

 Korean]. The American ginseng is considered by 

 our medical authorities to be "inert." This cannot be 

 said of the Korean root. I have seen the latter pro- 

 duce suppuration in otherwise healthy wounds when 

 surreptitiously given to hasten the slow progress of 

 healing. When the cause was discovered and removed 

 the wounds gradually came into proper condition 

 again. . . . 



:( 'Quinine has been shown to be so much more 

 efficacious in the treatment of the frequent malarial 

 fevers of these countries that ginseng has lost some 

 of its popularity in these cases; but whenever a tonic 

 or a "heating medicine" is needed, ginseng continues 

 to be resorted to, and, by combination with quinine, its 

 reputation will be enhanced rather than diminished/ 



"The use of ginseng in different parts of the 

 empire seems to vary considerably. The following 

 statement is made on this point : 



' 'In the North it is rarely taken except in cases of 

 actual sickness, as the soil and climate are dry and 

 cool, and there is comparatively little malaria. A few 

 of the wealthy people occasionally take an infusion as 

 a precautionary measure during the winter. . . . 

 It is sai 1 to be more extensively used by Chinese in 

 the Sout'.i, owing to the heat and moisture of their soil 



