\ 
366  The  Cardamom  Plant.  {^"'•/uiy'im^'^'" 
these  newer  antipyretics  are  now  sold  by  the  wholesale  druggists  and 
to  present  specimens  of  each  of  them  for  inspection. 
Sulphate  of  Quinine  of  the  best  makers  at  about   40c.  per  ounce. 
Tartrate  of  ChinoHne   70c.  " 
Resorcin   30c.  " 
Salicyhc  acid,  patented   20c.  " 
Kairin,  patented  $2.00  " 
Antipyrin,  patented  ■   1.25  " 
Sulphate  of  Thallin,  patented   1.75  " 
Antifebrin,  30c.  per  ounce,  or  as  Acetanilide   15c.  " 
Salol,  patented   40c. 
THE  CARDAMOM  PLANT/ 
The  cardamom  of  commerce,  Elettaria  Cai^damomum,  a  member  of 
the  natural  order  of  Zingiberacese,  is  indigenous  to  the  forests  of  Mal- 
abar, where  it  is  found  growing  wild  at  altitudes  ranging  from  1800 
to  3500  feet  above  sea  level.  A  moderate  degree  of  shade  and  any 
amount  of  moisture  are  the  climatal  conditions  most  favorable  for  the 
plant^s  luxuriant  growth. 
If  the  shade  be  too  profound,  the  stalks  which  spring  from  the 
rhizome  will  be  but  few  in  number,  but  if  sunlight  be  moderately  ad- 
mitted they  will  increase  amazingly,  often  exceeding  seventy  in  num- 
ber, but  if  exposed  to  sunshine  for  more  than  an  hour  or  two  daily, 
the  plant  languishes  and  eventually  dies  out.  Each  stalk  throws  out 
a  scape,  or  peduncle,  varying  in  length  from  IJ  to  2 J  feet,  on  which 
the  fruit  is  produced  in  the  form  of  capsules,  arranged  in  an  alternate 
manner  on  each  side  of  the  shaft,  at  a  distance  of  about  2^  inches 
from  each  other.  From  the  description  of  the  plant  above  given  a 
large  crop  might  be  expected,  but  the  result  does  not  fulfill  the  expec- 
tation to  the  anticipated  extent,  as,  owing  to  the  large  amount  of 
moisture  contained  in  the  vegetable  tissues  of  the  cases  which  cover 
the  grains,  one  pound  of  the  green  fruit  reduces  down  to  one  quarter 
or  sometimes  one-fifth  of  a  pound  when  fully  dried. 
1  From  the  South  India  Observer.  Eeprinted  from  the  Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans., 
June  9,  1888,  p.  1032. 
