482 



LABIXTM. 



. . . Peper-Miiitr^ Dale, who found the plant in the adjoining county 

 of Essex, states'^ that it is esteemed a specific in renal and vesical cal- 

 culus; and Ray, in the third edition of his SynopsiSy declares it superior 

 to all other mints as a remedy for weakness of the stomach aud for 

 diarrhoea. Peppermint was admitted to the London Pharmacopoeia in 

 1721, under the designation of Mentha 2'>^2'^eTitis sapore. 



The cultivation of peppermint at Mitchain in Surrey dates from about 

 1750/ at which period onl}^ a few acres of ground were there devoted to 

 medicinal plants. At the end of the last century, above 100 acres were 

 cropped with peppermint. But so late as 1805 there were no stills at 

 Mitcham^ and the herb had to be carried to London for the extraction of 

 the oil. Of late years the cultivation has diminished in extent, by reason 

 of the increased value of land and the competition of foreign oil of 

 peppermint. 



On the Continent Mentha Piperitis was grown as early as 1771 at 

 Utrecht; Gaubius^ appears to have been the first to notice '' Gampliom 

 Ewropcut Menthw Piperiticlis,'' i.e. Menthol (see page 483). 



In Germany peppermint became practically known in the latter 

 half of the last century, especially through the recommendation of 

 Kni2fQ;e,* 



Description— The rootstock of poppei-niint is perennial, throwing 

 out runners. The stem is erect, 3 to 4 feet liigh, when luxuriant some- 

 what branched below with erecto-putcnt branches, firm, quadrangular, 

 slightly hairy, often tinged Avith purple. Leaves all stalked, the stalks of 

 the lower | to | of an inch long, naked or nearly so, the leaf lanceolate, 

 narrowed or rather rounded towards the base, the point narrowed out and 

 acute, the lowest 2 to 3 inches long by about f of an inch broad, naked 

 and dull green above, palei- and glandu'lar all over, but only slightly han}' 

 upon the veins beneath; the teeth sharp, fine, and erecto-patent. M('i"- 

 escence in a loose lanceolate or acutely conical spike, 2 to 3 inches long by 

 about f of an inch broad at thebase,the lowest whorlsseparate, and usually 

 the lowest bracts leaf-like. Bracteoles lanceolate acuminate, about 

 equalling the expanded flowers, slightly ciliated. Pedicels 1 to H li^es 

 long, purplish, glandular but not hairy. Calyx often pur[)lish, the tube 

 about 1 line long and the teeth Valine, the tube cam})auulate-cyhndnca . 

 purplish, not haiiy, but dotted over with prominent glands; t^^e teetii 

 lanceolate subulate, furnished with short erecto-patent hairs. Coroiw 

 reddish purple about twice as long as the calyx, naked both within ana 



move 



without. Nut smooth '5 (rugose, according to our observation), 

 odour and taste are strongly aromatic. 



In var. 2. vulgaris of Sole, M. pipeAta (3. Smith, the plant is 

 hairy, with the spikes broader and shorter, or even bluntly capitate. 



Chemical Composition— The constituent for the sake of wh'cli 

 peppermint is cultivated is the essential oil. Oleum Menthce pferm. 



]l have examined the original speclme 

 l?r liirf/ ''^'^ '''°'°°g ^^y'^ Pl^»ts in tl: 



1-. — w. ,1,^ luuuug ria 

 - ..tish Museum and find it to acree r.er- 

 My .v.th the plant now in cultKon'- 



1705^117!""''^°^''' ^m>lementum, Lend. 

 ^ Lysons, Emiron% of London,!. (1800)254. 



* Adcermrlorum varii aronmenii h^>^' 



Erlan/rif, 1780. , frnruMr- 



Baker's raper on the Eng bsh M^'^^ ' 

 f erred to at page 4S0, note 1- 



