The scraped and dried rhizome of Zingiber officinale.

Habitat.—East and West Indies and India; cultivated in tropical climates.

Properties.—Ginger owes its taste to a pungent resin, its aroma to a volatile oil, and its medicinal and flavoring properties to both constituents, which are chiefly found in the delicate felted layer lying between the starchy, mealy parenchyma and the brown, horny, external covering.

Dose.—Horses, 2 dr. to 1 oz.; cattle, 1 to 4 oz.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 2 dr.; dogs, 5 to 15 gr.

PREPARATIONS

FLUIDEXTRACTUM ZINGIBERIS—FLUIDEXTRACT OF GINGER

Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, and evaporated so that 1 c. c. equals 1 gm. of the crude drug.

Dose.—Same as for ginger.

TINCTURE ZINGIBERIS—TINCTURE OF GINGER

Made by percolation of ginger with alcohol and water.

Dose.—Horses, ¹/₂ to 2 oz.; cattle, 1 to 4 oz.; sheep, 2 dr. to 1 oz.; pigs, 1 to 2 dr.; dogs, 15 to 30 m.

OLEORESINA ZINGIBERIS—OLEORESIN OF GINGER

Dose.—Horses, 30 m. to 1¹/₂ dr.; dogs, 1 to 5 m.

Action and Uses.—Ginger is an aromatic stimulant, and is used as a stomachic and carminative for all animals, notably for cattle and sheep. Ginger is administered internally, promotes gastric secretion, digestion and appetite. It is prescribed in atonic dyspepsia, often along with antacids and laxatives. Conjoined with purgatives it diminishes their tendency to nauseate and gripe, and also somewhat hastens their effects. The powder or fluidextract should be added to magnesium and sodium sulphate when given in full purgative doses to cattle or sheep.