PEPPEEMINT. 



27 



The United States Pharmacopoeia describes oil of peppermint as 

 " a colorless liquid, having the characteristic strong odor of pepper- 

 mint and a strongly aromatic pungent taste, followed by a sensation 

 of cold when air is drawn into the mouth." It is largely used in medi- 

 cine, internally as a stimulant and carminative, and externally to 

 relieve neuralgic and rheiunatic conditions. It is also used for flavor- 

 ing and scenting confectionery, cordials, and cosmetics. There is a 

 slight difference in the odor of white and black peppermint oil, the 

 black being more pungent and less agreeable in fragrance than the 

 white, which has a much finer odor, but, as already indicated, the 

 white mint is less hardy than the black and yields a smaller quantity 

 of oil. 



The Japanese oil of peppermint, Avhich, as pointed out elsewhere in 

 these pages, is obtained from a different species of mint than that 

 which produces the true oil of peppermint, is very inferior to the last 

 named. It has a very unpleasant odor and a bitter, disagreeable 

 taste, but it is a heavy oil and contains a higher percentage of menthol 

 and, being a very much cheaper oil, it is liable to be used as an adul- 

 terant of true peppermint oil. 



Menthol, formerly known as peppermint camphor, is the solid con- 

 stituent of oil of peppermint, obtained by subjecting the distilled oil 

 to an exceedingly low temperature by means of a freezing mixture. 

 Its properties are about the same as those of oil of peppermint, only 

 somewhat intensified. It is very largely made up into cones or pencils, 

 which furnish a popular remedy, to be applied externally or inhaled, 

 for the relief of headache, neuralgia, catarrh, asthma, and kindred 

 affections. It is also largely employed in other forms of medication. 

 The name " pipmenthol " has been applied to the menthol obtained 

 from the American oil, to distinguish it from the Japanese menthol. 

 Pipmenthol is said to have a distinct odor of peppermint, while the 

 Japanese menthol has but a slight peppermint odor. 



EXPORT OF PEPPERMINT OIL. 



The exports of peppermint oil during the fiscal year ended June 30, 

 1904, amounted to 42,930 pounds, valued at $124,728. Germany and 

 the United Kingdom were the largest consumers, the former receiving 

 22,372 pounds, valued at $65,505, and the latter 11,558 pounds, worth 

 $31,798. 



The following tables show^ the export of peppermint oil, by coun- 

 tries, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1904, and the quantities and 

 values of peppermint oil exported for a period of ten years, from 

 July 1, 1894, to June 30, 1904, inclusive: 



