BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 207 
ents are extractive matter, annzu and volatile 
oil. The plant has an agreeable lemon-like 
odor and an aromatic, pleasant taste, less pun- 
gent than the other mint family, but like them 
carminative, stimulant, and with some emme- 
nagogue properties. When given in form of an 
infusion one ounce of the Balm is used to one 
pint of boiling water, the dose of which is like 
the other infusions of the same class. The 
name is derived from the Greek me/tssa, the 
honey bee, because the flowers are said to be a 
favorite of that insect. 
Mentha Piperita, Peppermint.—Natural or- 
der Labiate. This small hardy perennial plant 
is a native of Europe and Asia, and naturalized 
in the United States; now cultivated in Europe 
and America for the value ofits oil. The plant 
grows from 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) 
high, root creeping, erect and purplish stem, © 
adorned with petioled, ovate and lanceolate 
leaves rounded at the base; they are serrated as 
to their margins, and of a handsome green color. 
Flowers purple in color and infloresce in form 
of a spike, the corolla is four-lobed with four 
short stamens, petals lip-shaped, calyx five- 
toothed and often colored like the corolla. Pep- 
permint has an aromatic odor and a pungent, 
cooling taste, and contains gum, resin, a trace 
tannin and a volatile oil, which will be treated 
furtheron. Peppermintis anervine, stimulant, 
antiseptic and carminative, and given in form of 
an infusion, water and spirits and oil. The offi- 
cinal preparations are the oil, spirits and Vinum 
Aromaticum, in which it enters as an ingredi- 
ent. Menthol is separated from the oil of all 
peppermint. 
