Download – additional notes Maton Collection William George Maton

Maton Collection – additional notes
William George Maton
William George Maton (Copyright: Royal College of Physicians of London)
William George Maton (1774-1835), born in Salisbury, was a successful and
influential physician at the beginning of the 19th century in London. He was the
Physician Extraordinary to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, and treasurer of the
Royal College of Physicians. He had one of the largest and most successful
practices in London and published widely in medicine, botany, natural sciences and
local history.
He studied the natural sciences at Oxford, receiving his B.A., M.A. and D.M. Under
the influence of Richard Pulteney M.D., he abandoned his early intention to enter the
Church and went into medicine instead.
Maton held many distinguished positions at the Royal College of Physicians,
including Harveian orator and Goulstonian lecturer. His medical papers appeared in
many journals of the time: Medical Transactions of the Royal College of Physicians
of London (1813, 1815), The London Medical and Physical Journal (1801), and he
contributed to the Pharmacopoeia Londonensis of 1809 and 1824. His non-medical
papers include an edition of the ‘General Writings of Linnaeus', and various articles
on antiquarian subjects published in the Gentleman's Magazine and Archaeologia.
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Maton was elected one of the first fellows of the Linnean Society of London in 1794;
he was the Vice President for many years and founded the Linnean Club, a dining
club for the more ‘zealous and respectable members' of the society. He was so well
admired by his colleagues at the Linnean Society that they named a species of
Australian woodpecker, a shellfish and a genus of plants after him.
While in residence in Weymouth, Maton had the good fortune to answer a botanical
query from one of the young Princesses. He thus became a favourite of the Royal
family, not only as their physician, but also a private friend.
From the existing documentation it is apparent that Maton was well loved and
respected by his peers; he was described as courteous and warm in his demeanour.
He was trusted and admired by all who knew him.
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Box of medical jars
Box of medical jars from the Maton Collection
This materia medica collection predates the formation of the Pharmaceutical Society.
Collections like this one, would have contained samples of crude drugs only. It was
from these plant and animal parts that medicines would have been prepared.
Sometimes it was the pure plant that was used, but often they would have been
combined in a mixture. Before the process of isolation of a curative chemical within a
crude drug was discovered, the most popular type of medicine would have been a
mixture of various substances found in a collection of materia medica. Almost 40
percent of prescriptions were written for mixtures. Pills, powders and ointments
made from these substances were also used.
Physicians like Maton would have been educated in materia medica. These
medicines would also have been available at an apothecary or Chemist and
Druggist. At the end of the 19th century the dispute between the physicians and
pharmacists was ongoing. The boundaries between the two fields' practices were
constantly being fought over in the courts.
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Selection of crude drugs
Selection of crude drugs from the Maton Collection
These jars from the Maton Collection hold a variety of plant parts used in medicine
preparation in the early 19th century. The following medicinal uses for these plants
come from Theophilus Redwood's Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia (1857). From
left to right they are:
PAPAVERACEAE Cordyalis cava. The roots of the hollow root plant were primarily
used as an external treatment for tumours. EBC 78452
IRIDACEAE Crocus sativus. The stigma of saffron is said to stimulate the stomach
when taken in moderate doses. In large quantities it excites the vascular system. It
can also have an effect on the cerebra-spinal system. It was and still is used as a
yellow dye and to add flavouring to food. EBC 78362
ROSACEAE Mespilus germanica. The berries of the medlar plant are described as
extremely astringent. The leaves and seeds could be used in detersive (cleansing)
gargles. EBC 78332
LABIATEAE Salvia officinalis. Sage leaves contained heating properties and could
be used to treat palsy (paralysis). They could also be used to alleviate night sweats
and stop the flow of breast milk after weaning. A tea made from sage leaves could
aid in the digestion of rich or greasy meats. EBC 78350
ARISTOLOCHIACEAE Aristolochia serpentaria. Snakeroot could be used as an
antiseptic, a diaphoretic and for creating heat. When an infusion of the powdered
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root was taken regularly, it could treat the bites of snakes and rabid dogs. It was also
used to settle indigestion. EBC 78482
Jars of cardamom pods
Jars of cardamom pods
These are two of Dr William Maton's materia medica jars holding cardamom pods.
Maton studied this genus so extensively that Sir James Smith, founder of the
Linnean Society, called the genus Matonia. However, the name was changed by
William Roxburgh and it became Alpinia cardamomum Roxb. In 1811 it changed
again to Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton.
Cardamom originated in Sri Lanka, South India and South East Asia. Today it is
cultivated in these locations as well as Guatemala and parts of Africa and Cuba. The
fruits are mainly used for flavouring but also have medicinal purposes. In Theophilus
Redwood's A Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia of 1857, cardamom seeds are
described as giving warmth for other medicines. They act as stimulants and assist
digestion.
The specimens in the photo are as follows;
ZINGIBERACEAE Elettaria cardamomum. EBC 78259
ZINGIBERACEAE Amomum maximum. EBC 78256
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