Rhizome chewed relieves toothache and powerfully increases the flow of saliva, and to the stomach it operates as a stimulant, first to the alimentary canal and, secondly, to the body in general, especially the organs of respiration. In enfeebled and relaxed habits, especially of old and gouty individuals, it promotes digestion and relieves flatulency and spasms of the stomach and bowels. It checks and prevents nausea and griping, which is sometimes produced by some drastic purgative, and a ginger plaster when applied to the forehead will relieve headache. When powdered and used with hot water and applied externally it produces a sensation of intense heat, and slight redness, and adds cordial qualities to the tonic. Powdered ginger may be taken in doses of ten grains or more in the form of a pill or in tea. When used to excess, however, it is very dangerous, as it slowly destroys the lining of the stomach and causes lingering pain and agonizing death. Ginger contains a great deal of alcohol. This fact accounts for the formation of the so-called ginger habit to which the victim becomes a slave as to the whiskey, opium, or tobacco habit. Indulgence in this habit is more dangerous because ginger is supposed to be harmless. A careful qualitative examination of the character of the extracts at times may reveal the presence of an adulterant, but the chief dependence is examination under the microscope. The microscope, however, will not reveal the presence of exhausted ginger, and a careful study of the effect of exhaustion on the proximate composition of the ground root is, therefore, desirable. It would naturally increase the relative percentage of fiber and albuminoids and starch, and diminish that of the extract matter. There is a variety of ginger known and cultivated by the Chinese under the name of _Galangal A. officinarom_. It is very thick and slightly flattened and is prized by the Siamese and Chinese as a substitute for ginger. In Siam it is known as Alpinia. There is also a variety found and cultivated in Siam similar to Alpinia allughas, called luk reu or bastard cardamom, which has the cardamom-like fruit. Ginger usually comes to New York in 110 to 120-pound bags and 130-pound barrels. The yield of oil from ginger is from 1.9 to 2.7 per cent., having a specific gravity at 15 degrees C. of 0.880 to 0.885, and an optical rotation of 25 to 40 degrees in a 100-millimeter tube. The chemical composition of ginger oil remains unknown, but it is known to contain camphene and other ingredients; its complex nature is indicated by the wide range of its boiling point.