HERBS. 375 
mosquito bites.” Continental pathologists have found oil of 
Peppermint highly useful as an internal antiseptic for correcting 
poisonous intestinal products given off when fecal matters are 
detained within the bowels so long as to undergo corrupt putre- 
factive changes, because of persistent constipation: Various 
skin troubles may result from this cause, such as nettle-rash, 
mattery pimples, itching, and erysipelatous redness, whilst 
severe general neurotic rheumatism may: eventually ensue until 
the difficulty is obviated. When crystallized into a solid form 
as ‘‘ menthol,” the oil, if rubbed over the skin suriace of a 
painful neuralgic part, will give speedy, and marked relief, 
as for frontal headache, tic doloureux, facial toothache, and other 
such grievous troubles. Distilled Peppermint water should be 
always preferred medicinally, from half to one wineglassful at 
atime. The stronger, and smaller Peppermint lozenges supplied 
by chemists are of excellent use when sluggishness of the 
intestines causes detention within them of the torpid food mass, 
with putrescent changes, and the giving off of noxious gases for 
absorption into the body. Two of these lozenges should be 
then sucked slowly a couple of hours after each more substantial 
meals of the day. ‘They will serve to act in this manner as 
preventive of appendicitis from a similar cause. For making 
“Peppermint drops,” take two cupfuls of granulated sugar, 
half a cupful of cold water, and a tiny pinch of cream of 
tartar. Boil these together for ten minutes, without stirring, 
and let the sugar melt slowly so that it may not burn. Add 
eight (for the stronger Peppermints twelve) drops of oil of 
Peppermint while the mixture is still on the fire. When 
removed from the stove mix with an egg-beater until it falls 
in long drops, then drop quickly on oiled paper. 
As an antiseptic snuff for use on the first access oi a 
cold in the head, or against attacks of hay-fever, menthol (in 
combination with some cocaine ?) is found to be promptly, and 
preventively useful. How glad Sydney Smith would have been 
to learn this fact! When victimized by hay-fever (in June, 
1335) he wrote as follows to the famous Sir Henry Holland, from 
Combe Florey: “I am suffering from my old complaint, the 
hay-fever (as it is called) ; my fear is perishing by deliquescence. 
I melt away in nasal, and lachrymal profluvia. My remedies are, 
warm pediluvium, cathartics, and topical application of a watery 
solution of opium to eyes, ears, and the interior of the nostrils. 
