648 ZINGIBERACE^. 



Uses — Cardamoms are an agreeable aromatic, often administered in 

 conjunction with other medicines. As an ingredient in curry powder, 

 they have also some use as a condiment. But the consumption in 

 England is small in comparison with what it is in Russia, Sweden, 

 Norway and parts of Germany, where they are constantly employed as 

 a spice for the flavouring of cakes. In these countries Ceylon carda- 

 moms arc also used, but exclusively for the manufacture of liqueurs. 

 In India, cardamoms, besides being used in medicine, are employed as 

 a condiment and for chewing with betel. 



Other sorts of Cardamom, 



The fruits of several other plants of the order Zingiheracece ha\e 

 at various times been employed in pharmacy under the common name 

 of Cardamom, We shall here notice only those which have some im- 

 portance in European or Indian commerce.^ 



Round or Cluster Cardamom — Amomum Cardamomiim L., the 



mother-plant of this drug, is a native of Cambodia, Siam, Sumatra 

 and Java. 



During the intercourse with Siam, which was frequent in the early 

 part of the 17th century, this drug, which is there in common^use, 

 occasionally found its way into Europe. Clusius received a specmien 

 of it in 1605 as the true Amomiim of the ancients, and figured it as a 

 great rarity.^ As Amomum verum it had a place in the pharmacopoeias 

 of this period. Parkinson (1640), who figures it as Amomum genidrnm, 

 says that "of late days it hath been sent to Venice from the East 

 Indies." Dale (1693) and Pomet (1694) both regarded it as a rare drug; 

 the latter says it is brought from Holland, and that it is the only thing • 

 that ought to be used when Amomum is ordered. In 1751 it was so 



always to be substituted for it.^ 



AndroTiiach 



Thus it had completely disappeared, when about the year 18o3 

 commercial relations were re-opened with Siam; and among the com- 

 modities poured into the market were Bound Cardamoms. They were 

 not appreciated, and the importations becoming unprofitable, soon 

 ceased.' They are nevertheless an article of considerable traffic m 

 Eastern Asia. 



Round Cardamoms are produced in small compact bunches.^ Each 

 fruit is globular, y% to ^\ of an inch in diameter, marked with longi- 

 tudinal furrows, and sometimes distinctly three-lobed. The P^^/^^^J 

 is thin, fragile, somewhat hairy, of a buff colour, enclosing a three-lobea 



mass of seeds^ 



gathered unripe. 



Malabar 



emblance 



^ardamom, have a strong caniplioraceous, aromatic tas ^ 



There is a large export from Siam of cardamoius of this an^Y+n 



following: sort. "' 



,- ^.. 1871 



* For additioaal information on tho occurs in the Dispensaiorhm of ValeW"' 



various soi-ts of Cardamom, consult Gui- Cordus. ,, , jond. 



bourt, Hist des Dro<j. ii. (1869) 215-227; » Hill, Ilist. of the Mat. MeJ., -LO" 



f ^^L^^i';"''^"^* of Mat. Med. ii., part (1751) 472. , ,. , £„,,„ 



I. (ISoo) 243-2G3; Hanbury in Pharm. * Thus 43 bags, imported /brectf^^j 



Jom-n. XIV. (1850) 352. 416 ; Sdence Papers, Bangkok, were offered for sale m Lpf ^«„%. 



^¥^^- . ,., . March, 1857, and bought in at Ue.^.P^'^^ 



- I^oticornm Ltbri, 377. Yet it already » Fig. in Guibourt, I. c. 215. 



