Peppermint.

Mentha Pulegii. Pennyroyal.

Mentha Viridis. Spearmint.

These three plants agree closely in botanical character (Nat. Ord. LabiatAe), in their habitat (Europe), and in their medicinal properties. The volatile oil which they respectively yield is the best form for internal use. Oleum Pulegii is not officinal in the Brit. Pharm.

Med. Prop. and Action. All three are aromatic, stimulant, carminative, and stomachic. The volatile oils are used as stimulant stomachics, and as adjuncts to purgatives. The Distilled Waters are carminative, and are much used as vehicles for saline aperients.

Offic. Prep. Of Mentha Piperita: - 1. Oleum Mentha Piperita (the oil distilled in England from the fresh flowering plant). Dose, ej. - v. on sugar or suspended in mucilage.

2. Aqua Menthae Piperita (English Oil Of Peppermint Fl

drm. iss.; Water Ciss.; Distil Cj.). Dose, fl. oz. j. - fl. oz. ij.

3. Spiritus Mentha Piperita (English Oil Of Peppermint Fl

oz. j.; Rectified Spirit fl. oz. ix.). Dose,ev . - el. It contains forty-seven times as much Ol Menth. Pip. as Sp. Menth. Pip. Ph. Lond.

Of Mentua Viridis: - 1. Oleum Mentha Viridis (the Oil distilled in England from the fresh herb when in flower). Dose, ej. - v. on sugar or in mucilage.

2. Aqua Mentha Viridis (English Oil Of Spearmint Fl

drs. iss.; Water Ciss.; Distil Cj). Dose, fl. oz. j. - fl. oz. ij.

Dose of Oleum Pulegii, ej. - ev. on sugar or in mucilage.

1798. Therapeutic Uses

In Flatulence, Flatulent Colic, Nausea, and Spasmodic Affections of the Bowels, the volatile oil of these plants (it is not a matter of importance which is selected) may be given with advantage. A few drops of Laudanum may be conjoined, according to the urgency of the symptoms. Their efficacy is often increased by the addition of Magnesia. In Puerperal Fever, the Oil of Peppermint has been proposed as a substitute for the nauseous Oil of Turpentine by Mr. Dove,* of Norwich. In severe cases he employed it, giving exxx. - xl. in divided doses in the twenty-four hours preceding its use by a stimulating aperient. The effects were, on the whole, very satisfactory. Mr. Dove considers that probably all essential oils would act as well as Turpentine.