284 



UNITED STATES- 



plant, the c. virginica^ is common is several of the 

 states, and rises to the height of fifteen or twenty 

 feet, spreading into many branches, covered with a 

 light coloured bark. The leaves are large, oblong, 

 and entire; placed nearly opposite. The flowers 

 are produced in May, towards the extremity of the 

 shoots of the former year, hang in long bunches, and 

 are of a pure white, whence the name snow-dropj.. 

 and from; the flowers being cut into narrow seg- 

 ments, it has obtained the name of fringe^tree^- 

 When the flowers are fully grown, the tree makes a 

 handsome appearance* After' the flowers have fall- 

 en, oval berries appear, of a livid blackish colour, 

 when ripe, each containing one hard, oblong, pointed 

 seed^. The bark of the root of this shrub, Mr. Mar- 

 shall says, bruised and applied to fresh wounds, is 

 esteemed by the natives a specific in healing them 

 without suppuration. The chionanthus xj. has se» 

 "^seral varieties. 



Gins eng..,, Panax^ quinqiiefolium.,,,T\ie dried 

 r-cot of this plant has a mucilaginous, sweetish taste, 

 similar to that of liquorice, but accompanied with 

 some degree of bitterness, and a slight aromatic 

 warmth, with very little odour. The Chinese ascribe 

 extraordinary virtues to this plant, and consider it 

 as a sovereign remedy in almost every disease to 

 which they are subject* In particular, they suppose 

 it possesses the property of preventing the effects of 

 old ag^, and in preserving, their virility to a late 

 period. 



The physicians of Europe arrd North America 

 iikvsr prescribe. ginseng:, hut no experiments have 



