Origin. - The dry rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe, a perennial herb indigenous in tropical Asia and now cultivated in most tropical countries.

Description and Properties. - A thick, flattish rhizome from 1 to 4 inches (25 to 100 Mm.) long, with club-shaped lobes on one side; deprived of the corky layer, pale, buff-colored, striate, breaking with a mealy, rather fibrous fracture, showing numerous small, scattered resin-cells and fibro-vascular bundles, the latter enclosed by a nucleus sheath. Agreeably aromatic and of a warm, pungent taste.

Ginger contains about 0.75 to 2 per cent. of a pale-yellow volatile oil of uncertain composition, to which the ginger owes its aromatic properties; also a soft resin, giving to the drug its hot, pungent taste. The proportion of resin present varies with the different varieties of ginger, that from the East Indies yielding about 8 per cent., while the Jamaica product yields only about 5 per cent.

Dose. - 8-30 grains (0.5-2.0 Gm.) [15 grains (1 Gm.), U. S. P.J.

Official Preparations

Fluidextractum Zingiberis - Fluidextracti Zingiberis - Fluidextract of Ginger. - Dose, 10-30 minims (0.6-2.0 Cc.) [15 minims (1 Cc), U. S. P.].

Oleoreslna Zingiberis - Oleoresinae Zingiberis - Oleoresin of Ginger. - Dose, 1-3 grains (0.06-0.18 Gm.) [1/2 grain (0.03 Gm.), U. S. P.J.

Piilvis Aromaticus - Pulveris Aromatici - Aromatic Powder. - Dose, 10-30 grains (0.6-2.0 Gm.) (Formula given under Cardamomum.)

Pulvis Rhei Compositus - Pulveris Rhei Compositi - Compound Powder of Rhubarb. - Rhubarb, 25; magnesia, 65; ginger, 10 parts. Dose, 1/2-1 dram (2.0-4.0 Gm.) [30 grains (2 Gm.), U. S. P.J.

Syrupus Zingiberis - Syrupi Zingiberis - Syrup of Ginger. - Dose, 1/2-2 drams (2.0-8.0 Cc.) [4 drams (16 Cc), U. S. P.J.

Tinctura Zingiberis - Tinctiirae Zingiberis - Tincture of Ginger (20 per cent.). - Dose, 1/2-2 fluidrams (2.0-8.0 Cc.) [30 minims (2 Cc), U. S. P.J.

Physiological action and therapeutics are almost identical with those of other aromatics. Ginger is especially valuable as a stomachic and carminative, to stimulate the stomach, improve the appetite, and relieve flatulency and colic. It is a safe and efficient domestic remedy for the relief of simple diarrhea. It is also much used as a corrective to modify the taste and action of other medicines.