116-3 
European and Asiatic Motherwort (Zeonurus Cardiaca, Linn.), which has but 
lately been brought before us, as Homeeopaths, has been esteemed much, as the 
above species, beside being valued in Russia, as a remedy in rabies. The East 
Indian Axnzsomeles Malabarica, R. Br.; is an excellent diaphoretic. The American 
Dittany (Czaz/a mariana, Linn.), was used, by the Aborigines, as an antiperiodic 
and alexiteric. The genus Ocimum furnishes plants of various properties; the 
Sierra Leone vzrzde, Willd., and Indian sanctum, Linn., are febrifugal ; the Japanese 
crispus, Thunb., antirheumatic, and the Indian swave, Willd., useful in infantile 
catarrh. 
A number of the above species, and a multitude of others, are better known 
to the housewife and perfumer than to us as physicians, 
History and Habitat.—Peppermint is nowhere considered truly indigenous, 
though probably its native haunt is the basin of the Mediterranean, It grows as 
an escaped plant in all European countries, as it does with us, in ditches and 
along brooks; there is nothing to prove that it is not a cultivated variety of MM, 
viridis, into which it is said to revert if not properly reset. It was first said to be 
found in England about the year 1700, by Dr. Eales. The cultivation of the plant 
was begun in Great Britain about 1750, and on the Continent in 1770; it was 
afterward quite extensively planted in Surrey, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and 
Hertfordshire, in England; Sens, in France; Cdlleda, in Germany ; and New York, 
Ohio, and Michigan, in the United States. The yield of oil, for which alone the 
plant is cultivated, is from .5 to 1.5 per cent. of the production (from 8 to 16 Ibs. 
per acre); and the annual product of the world is estimated at about 90,000 Ibs.* 
Peppermint began its usefulness, in medicine, at about the same period of its 
cultivation, and was then considered specific in renal and vesical calculus, dyspep- 
sia, and diarrhcea; being considered a stomachic, tonic, stimulant, antispasmodic, 
and carminative. It was found useful in bowel troubles, especially those associated 
with flatulency, colic, retching, vomiting, spasmodic actions, and hysteria. Its 
rubefacient action is intimately associated with what may be considered anodyne 
properties, when the trouble is neuralgic or rheumatoid, and the affected nerves 
or muscles are somewhat superficial. Facial and sciatic affections are greatly 
relieved by fomentations of the leaves, or rubbing the oil, or menthol, directly 
over the course of the nerve itself; the action is temporary, but decidedly happy. 
The principal use of the essence or oil is as a flavoring . gatenenesage _ a 
jucund ingredient of prescriptions containing nauseous, an gs y ENPws 
drugs. | at 
The leaves and tops are officinal in the U. S. Ph., as well as Spiritus M — 
Piperite, and Vinum Aromaticum+ In Eclectic practice, the gg mi : 
Aqua Menthe Piperite, Extractum Rhet Fluidum,§ L asian pees! katy mee 
Mistura Camphore Composita§ Mistura Cajepulr coupes : 
Piperite, Pulvis Rhei Compositus,, Tinctura Olei Mentha £upert - cs 
x : Se Oe. nagar eam IRS 
{ Lavende, Gngtoum Pepermit Rocoary, Sage an Wormwood. 1 Cela, Cover SPP-OSS 2 oe 
t Rhubarb and Peppermint. Se oe ee ee geek 
