Caraway Water, like that of Aniseed, is a good Carminative; but not so much used, tho’ much pleasanter.
CHAP. IX.
Of Cardamom Seed Water.
The Seed from whence this Water takes its Name, is called by Botanists Cardamomum Minus, or the lesser Cardamom; to distinguish it from the Cardamomum Majus, or Grains of Paradise.
The lesser Cardamom is a small short Fruit, or membranaceous Capsule, of a trigonal Form, about a third of an Inch long, and swelling out thick about the Middle; beginning small and narrow from the Stalk, and terminating in a small, but obtuse Point at the End. It is striated all over very deeply with longitudinal Furrows, and consists of a thin but very tough Membrane, of a fibrous Texture, and palebrown Colour, with a faint Cast of red. When the Fruit is thoroughly ripe, this Membrane opens at the three Edges all the way, and shews that it is internally divided by three thin Membranes into three Cells, in each of which is an Arrangement of Seeds, separately lodged in two Series. The Seeds are of an irregular angular Figure, rough, and of a dusky brown Colour on the Surface, with a Mixture of yellowish and reddish, and of white Colour within. They have not much Smell, unless first bruised, when they are much like Camphire under the Nose. They are of an acrid, aromatic and fiery hot Taste. They should be chosen sound, close shut on all Sides, and full of Seeds, of a good Smell, and of an acrid aromatic Taste.
Recipe for ten Gallons of Cardamom Seed Water.
Take of the lesser Cardamom Seeds husked two Pounds and a Half, of clean Proof Spirit ten Gallons and a Half, and of Water one Gallon; draw off ten Gallons by a gentle Heat. You may either dulcify it or not with fine Sugar at pleasure.
This Water is Carminative, assists Digestion, and good to strengthen the Head and Stomach.
CHAP. X.
Of Aqua Mirabilis; or, the Wonderful-Water.
Most of the Ingredients in this Composition have already been described, and an Account of the Nutmegs will be given in Chap. xxv. But the Cubebs and Ginger remain to be mentioned.
Cubebs are small dried Fruit resembling a Pepper-corn, but often somewhat longer; of a dark brown Colour, composed of a wrinkled external Bark; of an aromatic, tho’ not very strong Smell, and of an acrid and pungent Taste, tho’ less so than Pepper; but its Acrimony continues long on the Tongue, and draws forth a large Quantity of Saliva. We have two Kinds of Cubebs, which differ only in their Periods of gathering, both are produced from the same Plant. The unripe Cubebs are small, very wrinkled on the Surface, and their Nucleus, when broken, is flacid: But the ripe ones not so. Cubebs are brought from the Island Java, where they grow in great Abundance. They should be chosen large, fresh, and sound, and the heaviest possible. They are warm and carminative, and esteemed good in Vertigoes, Palsies, and Disorders of the Stomach.