Note 452 — PHARMACOLOGIA. (continued 2)

Dr. Maton in a learned critical and botanical note to a paper on the Cardamom, by Mr. White, Surgeon of Bombay, (Trans: Lin: Soc: v. x, 229,) called the genus, of which it consists, Elettaria, a nomenclature which was accordingly adopted by the College in their late Pharmacopœia; but, says Sir James Smith, as this name is of a barbarous origin, (viz. from Elettaria, the Malabar name of the plant.) we should greatly prefer that of Matonia; a suggestion which has been since adopted by Mr. Roscoe of Liverpool, in his description of the Scitamineœ. The College has therefore the gratifying task of erasing the term Elettaria from their Materia Medica, and of substituting for it a name no less known than respected by the Medical profession.