Foreign Vegetables. 191 
the Philippine Hands, under the Name of Tugus y 
for the true Amomum of Serapio *, but his Defcrip- 
tion of it is fo inaccurate, that we may juftly doubt 
whether it. be the true Amomum, or a particular 
Species of Cardamom. 
Amomum abounds with a thin, volatile, aroma- 
tick, eflfential Oil, which it yields in Diftillation, 
if it be previoufly macerated in Water. By Virtue 
of this aromatick Oil, it refills Poifons, attenuates 
thick Humours, increafes the Motion ol the Blood, 
raifes the Spirits when languid, rellores the Ofcil- 
lation of the Fibres, and helps Digellion. It is alfo 
diaphoretick, and provokes Urine and the Menfes. 
It is an Ingredient in Venice- Treacle *. Among the 
Ancients it was chiefly ufed in Unguents. 
Artic. X. Of Cardamom. 
W e fliall perhaps find nothing in the whole Mar 
ieria Medica which is the Subject of more Difpute 
than Cardamom. The Writers of all Ages, Greeks 
and Arabians , Ancients and Moderns, leem to have 
had different Notions concerning it. The older Greeks 
have taken Notice but of one Kind of Cardamom. 
Plmy makes four Kinds. Avicenna , among the 
Arabians , reckons two ; one, which he calls Cacula 
or Cacule ; another, Cordumemi : To this he attri- 
butes the lame Virtues which Diofcorides attributes 
to Cardamom . He makes two Species of Cacula 
(viz ) the greater and the leffer. He likewife fpeaks 
of Helbua or Hilbua , and Chairbua , by which Words 
* It being very rarely to be met with, its Place is generally 
fupplied by the Seed of the Amomum 'vulgar e or common Amo- 
mum, whicii Cafpar Bauhim calls Sifon quod Ami mum Officials 
vojiris. This, according to Mr. Miller , Botan. Ofjicin . p. 31. 
is a little ftriated Seed, abouc the Bignefs of Pailley Seed, of a 
pleafant, hot, fpicy Snlell and Tafte, fomething like a Nutmeg. 
fome 
