376 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
The membrane is so irritable that light, dust, contradiction, 
an absurd remark, the sight of a dissenter, anything sets me 
sneezing; and if I begin sneezing at twelve I don’t leave off 
till two o’clock, and am heard distinctly in Taunton, when the 
wind sets that way, a distance of six miles. Turn your mind 
to this little curse.” 
Spear Mint (Mentha: viridis), or Garden Mint, is an allied 
herb which is of popular use for making Mint sauce, to be eaten 
with roast lamb. It likewise possesses a fragrant aromatic odour, 
and a warm, spicy taste; bearing the name also of ‘“‘ Mackerel 
Mint,” and in Germany of “ Lady’s Mint.” Its volatile oil 
makes this herb antiseptic, and conducive to the better digestion 
of young immature meat, whilst the vinegar and sugar added 
in Mint sauce, help forward the solution of crude albuminous 
fibre. But, as is well said, “‘ Mint often makes lamb out of an 
old sheep.” Mint sauce was described by Tusset, and blest by 
Cobbett. Dr. Hayman has supposed it to historically reflect 
the bitter herbs of the Jewish Passover. When some fresh 
leaves of this herb are macerated in milk the curdling thereof 
is slower than if the milk clots by itself; therefore Spear Mint, 
or its essence, is much to be commended for use with milk 
foods by delicate persons, and for young children of feeble 
digestive powers. A distilled water of Spear Mint is made 
which will relieve hiccough, and flatulence, as well as the 
giddiness of indigestion, wherefore Martial called the herb 
* Ructatric mentha.’ “This is the Spear Mint,” writes our 
Poet Laureate, “that steadies giddiness.” The name Spear, 
or Spire, indicates the spiry form of its floral blossoming. 
Washington Irving, in Knickerbocker, speaks of New Englanders 
who “were great roysterers, much given to revel on_hoe- 
cakes, and bacon, Mint julep, and apple-toddy.” Julep is 
an ancient Arabian name for a calming drink (originally 
containing opium, with mucilage), and possibly connected with 
the Persian “ salep’? made from bulbs of an orchis. Culpeper 
wrote: “ The Mints are extreme bad for wounded people; and 
they say a wounded man that eats Mints his wound will never 
be cured, but that is a long day.” Nevertheless, modern 
experience teaches that the Mints are to be credited with 
terebinthine antiseptic healing virtues, notably . peppermint, 
rosemary, and thyme. “ As for the Garden Mint,’’ wrote Pliny, 
“the very smell of it alone recovers, and refreshes the spirits, 
