8 FAMILY HERBAL. 



and they are distinguished by three different names, 

 calambac, common lignum aloes, and calanibour ; 

 of these the calambac is the finest and the most 

 resinous, the calambour is almost a mere chip, the 

 other is of a middle value between them. . They are 

 all of the same virtue, but in different degrees. They 

 are said to be cordial and strengthening to the 

 stomach, but we use them very little. 



True Amomum. Amomum vcrum racemosum. 



Amomum is another of those drugs we receive 

 from abroad, and do not know the plants which pro- 

 duce them. The fruit itself, which is called amo- 

 mum, is like the lesser cardamom, but that it is 

 round ; it consists of a skinny husk and seeds within, 

 and is whitish, and of the bigness of a horse-bean. 

 Several of these sometimes are found growing to- 

 gether to one stalk in a close body. 



The old physicians used it as a cordial and car- 

 minative, but at present it is much neglected. 



Common Amomum. Amomum vulgar e. 



Though the amomum before mentioned be not 

 used in prescription, it is an ingredient in some old 

 compositions ; and, being often not to be met with, 

 it has been found necessary to substitute another 

 carminative seed in its place ; tins grows on an 

 Knglish plant, thence called also amomum. 



The common amomum, otherwise called bas- 

 tard stone parsley, is frequent about our hedges ; 

 it grows to three feet /in height, but the. stalk 

 is slender, and divided into a great many branches 

 The leaves are of a brip;ht green and winged, 

 or composed of double rows of smaller, with an 



