2i2 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
a surplus of the glucose (Grape sugar) serves to form fat for 
storage. 
The Peppermint (Mentha piperita), or Brandy Mint, which 
grows not uncommonly in moist places about England, and 
is cultivated largely at Mitcham, yields by its fragrant, powerfully 
aromatic, and comforting essential oil, preparations which: diffuse 
warmth in the stomach, and mouth, acting as a carminative 
stimulant, with some amount of sedative power against the 
pain of colic, flatulence, spasm, or indigestion. This is through 
the potential oil, of which the herb yields 1 per cent. The 
leaves. and stems exhale a strong, refreshing, characteristic 
aroma, which, whilst delicate at first, is quickly followed by a 
sense of numbness, and coldness, increased by drawing in the 
breath. Lozenges made of Peppermint Oil, or Essence, are 
admirable for affording ease in colic, flatulence, and nausea. 
They will also help to prevent sea-sickness, besides proving 
antiseptic if food has been taken of a putrescent tendency, or 
hard to digest. When Tom Hood lay a-dying, he turned his 
eyes feebly towards the window on hearing it rattle in the night ; 
whereupon his wife, who was watching him, said softly, “ It’s 
only the wind, dear!” to which he replied with a ready sense 
of humour, indomitable to the last, “‘ Then put a Peppermint 
lozenge on the sill.” The allied Spear Mint (Mentha viridis), 
such as the cook employs for making Mint sauce, possesses 
likewise cordial properties by its aromatic essential oil, which 
is fragrant, and grateful to the stomach; it stimulates the 
digestive system, and prevents septic changes within the 
intestines. This is called also Mackerel Mint, and in Germany 
Lady’s Mint (or Money). ‘“ The smell of Mint,” quoth John 
Swan, in Speculum Mundi (1643), “‘ stirreth up the mind, and 
must therefore be good for students.” 
“Marmalade of Quinces,” says Austin, on Fruits (1665), 
‘is known to be a good cordial, strengthening the stomach, and 
heart, both of the sick, and sound.” This fruit, Cydonia, from 
Cydon (now Candia), had a former English title, “‘ Melicotone.” 
In ancient Rome it was regarded as sacred; now we banish the 
tree, because of its strong penetrating odour, to a corner of the 
garden. Lord Bacon commended “ quiddemy,” a preserve 
of Quinces, for strengthening the stomach ; and old Fuller said 
of this fruit, “ Being not more pleasant to the palate than 
restorative to the health, they are accounted a great cordizll.” 
