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Literary
June 19, 1787
The New York Packet
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
An extract from the College of Physicians' medical transactions detailing a Mandarin's account, via Dr. Heberden, of Chinese methods for gathering, curing, infusing, and preserving Ginseng root, valued as a sovereign remedy for disorders.
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Extract from the third volume of medical transactions, published by the College of Physicians in London.
The method of preparing the Ginseng Root in China, communicated by Dr. Heberden.
The following account was communicated to John Berrow, Esq. by a Mandarin, who had presided, by the Emperor of China's order in that part of Tartary where the Ginseng is gathered and cured. He allowed ours to be the same with theirs, and that they differed only in the curing, which, in the opinion of the Chinese, makes a very great difference in the virtue of this root. They suppose it to be a sovereign analeptic, and useful in almost all disorders; their manner of infusing it is to slice it into a vessel of cold water, which vessel is covered, and put into boiling water where it soon becomes fit for use.
To cure the Ginseng Root.
Gather the root sound and good (not in the season when the plant is in flower) and gently wash it from the earth, being careful not to break the skin. Then take an iron torch (that is, a very flat kind of stewpan, used in China over a charcoal fire) boil therein water; put in the root, and let it lie three or four minutes, but not so long as to injure or break off the skin, when on cutting the root, the inside will appear of a light straw colour. Then take a clean linen cloth, and having wiped the Ginseng clean and dry, place the torch over the gentlest fire, and lay in it a row of Ginseng. Here let it dry gradually, turning it leisurely till it is something elastic, but not too dry; afterwards take a damp clean cloth, in which roll up the longest pieces in parallel lines, and wrap them up very tight, binding them hard round with thread; after being dried a day or two by a very slow fire, unpack the same and repeat the package of the inside and moist part, until it is all like the outside, and the whole dry enough to sound like a piece of wood when dropped upon a table. The heaviest pieces of a straw or light brown colour are much the best.
To preserve the same.
Take a box well lined with lead, and put it into a larger one with quick-lime (to prevent vermin) and close the whole against air and weather.
The method of preparing the Ginseng Root in China, communicated by Dr. Heberden.
The following account was communicated to John Berrow, Esq. by a Mandarin, who had presided, by the Emperor of China's order in that part of Tartary where the Ginseng is gathered and cured. He allowed ours to be the same with theirs, and that they differed only in the curing, which, in the opinion of the Chinese, makes a very great difference in the virtue of this root. They suppose it to be a sovereign analeptic, and useful in almost all disorders; their manner of infusing it is to slice it into a vessel of cold water, which vessel is covered, and put into boiling water where it soon becomes fit for use.
To cure the Ginseng Root.
Gather the root sound and good (not in the season when the plant is in flower) and gently wash it from the earth, being careful not to break the skin. Then take an iron torch (that is, a very flat kind of stewpan, used in China over a charcoal fire) boil therein water; put in the root, and let it lie three or four minutes, but not so long as to injure or break off the skin, when on cutting the root, the inside will appear of a light straw colour. Then take a clean linen cloth, and having wiped the Ginseng clean and dry, place the torch over the gentlest fire, and lay in it a row of Ginseng. Here let it dry gradually, turning it leisurely till it is something elastic, but not too dry; afterwards take a damp clean cloth, in which roll up the longest pieces in parallel lines, and wrap them up very tight, binding them hard round with thread; after being dried a day or two by a very slow fire, unpack the same and repeat the package of the inside and moist part, until it is all like the outside, and the whole dry enough to sound like a piece of wood when dropped upon a table. The heaviest pieces of a straw or light brown colour are much the best.
To preserve the same.
Take a box well lined with lead, and put it into a larger one with quick-lime (to prevent vermin) and close the whole against air and weather.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What keywords are associated?
Ginseng Root
China Preparation
Curing Method
Medical Transactions
Analeptic Root
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Heberden (Communicated To John Berrow, Esq. By A Mandarin)
Literary Details
Title
The Method Of Preparing The Ginseng Root In China, Communicated By Dr. Heberden
Author
Dr. Heberden (Communicated To John Berrow, Esq. By A Mandarin)
Subject
Extract From The Third Volume Of Medical Transactions, Published By The College Of Physicians In London
Form / Style
Prose Instructional Account
Key Lines
They Suppose It To Be A Sovereign Analeptic, And Useful In Almost All Disorders; Their Manner Of Infusing It Is To Slice It Into A Vessel Of Cold Water, Which Vessel Is Covered, And Put Into Boiling Water Where It Soon Becomes Fit For Use.
Gather The Root Sound And Good (Not In The Season When The Plant Is In Flower) And Gently Wash It From The Earth, Being Careful Not To Break The Skin.
The Heaviest Pieces Of A Straw Or Light Brown Colour Are Much The Best.
Take A Box Well Lined With Lead, And Put It Into A Larger One With Quick Lime (To Prevent Vermin) And Close The Whole Against Air And Weather.