GInger is the Root of a Plant which the Botanists call Arundo humilis clavata radice acri, which is to say, the small Club Reed with the sharp Root: It represents in Shape a sort of Foot at the end of every Root, for which Reason the Inhabitants of St. Christophers, and the other Leeward Islands have call'd this Pate in French, or Gingembre, which signifies a Paw or Foot. This produces several Reeds, bearing large long green Leaves, and afterwards a reddish Flower, mix'd with a little green, the whole Head of the Flower resembling a Club; from whence it is call'd Ginger with the Club Flower.
This Root is brought to us sometimes from the East Indies, but that which is cultivated in the Western Islands is more us'd, and much better, because they dry it with more Care, so that it is not parch'd and wither'd, therefore chuse such as is new, dry, well-fed, not easy to break, of a greyish Colour, resinous within, and of a hot piquant Taste, and reject that which is soft, spungy, white within and without, and that which is subject to be worm-eaten. Ginger is very little us'd in Physick, but instead of that, great Quantities of it are us'd by the Hawkers and Chandlers in the Country, who mix it with Pepper; they reduce it to Powder, and then call it white Spice, which in France serves for several Uses.
Of Candied Ginger
The West Indians candy their Ginger when it is taken from the Earth, and likewise they make a Preserve of it green, as the East Indians do: From whence we have great Quantities of green Ginger. The English, Dutch, and most of the northern People make use of this to warm the Stomach, as well as to assist Digestion, to correct the Scurvy, or any ill Tastes in the Mouth, to which those Nations are very often subject.
Of Zerumbeth and Zedoary.
These are two Roots of different Colour and Figure, which come notwithstanding from the same Plant, and the Leaves are the very same with that of Ginger, for which Reason some call it wild Ginger. Both these Roots are brought us from the East Indies, and the Isle of St. Lawrence, where they grow in abundance.
The Zerumbeth is the round Part of the Root, which we receive cut in Pieces like Jalap, grey without and white within, hard to break, not carious, of a warm aromatick Taste. The Zedoary, the long Part of the Plant, serving as a Root to the Zerumbeth; it is about the Length and Thickness of one's little Finger, of a whitish red Cast without, and white within, well fed, heavy, and not apt to break, without worm-eating, of a warm aromatick Taste, like that of Rosemary. The Zerumbeth is of little Use in Physick; on the other hand, the Zedoary is esteem'd a good Cordial, and of great Efficacy against all Venom and Contagion.
There are two kinds of Ginger, the white, or mealy, and the hard black; but the first is recknon'd by much the best. It grows both in the East and West Indies, and is very much cultivated at present in the Isles of the Antilles; but the greatest Quantities come from the Leeward Islands, Barbadoes, Nevis, St. Christophers, &c. as likewise from Jamaica and other Places thereabouts. We have now little out of the East-Indies, but what is brought thence in a Confection, call'd green Ginger: It is very warm, attenuating, inciding, aperitive, and highly stomachick and alexipharmack; gives Ease in the Colick, expels Wind, and is an excellent antiasthmatick, made into an Electuary with Honey, or its own Syrup: It creates an Appetite, resists Putrefaction, expels the Plague, Poison, and all manner of malignant and pestilential Diseases. It may be used in Powder grated or pounded, from half a Dram to a Dram, or candied to an Ounce. Green Ginger which they prepare in India, is likewise made in England and other Parts, after this manner: Let the fresh Root soak two or three Days in warm Water, keeping it in a Balneo all that time; so it will grow soft and swell; then boil it up either slit or whole with refin'd Sugar to a Syrup. The Candied Ginger is made by steeping the Roots in warm Water, then cutting them into long Pieces, dry them, after which candy them.
A laxative Confection of Ginger, useful for cold Constitutions, to purge off watry and phlegmatick Humours is made thus. Take Ginger two Drams, Cinnamon, Cloves, of each a Dram, Nutmeg, Saffron, Galingal, of each a Scruple, Turbith half a Dram, Diagridium three Drams, Sugar four Ounces, mix and make a Confect. Dose from two Drams to half an Ounce. Another Confection to revive and fortify a weak and cold Stomach: Take Ginger in Powder six Drams, Cinnamon two Drams, Nutmegs, Cloves, Mace, Saffron, of each a Dram, Pistachia Nuts one Ounce, fine Sugar a Pound, dissolv'd in Rose-water; then mix all, and beat it up to a Consistence, of which take the Quantity of a Wallnut twice a Day.