$36 ORD. XIX. Verticillate. MELISSA OFFICINALIS. 
and rises to the surface of the aqueous fluid a small portion of 
essential oil, in colour yellowish, and of a very fragrant smell,’’* 
Balm, was formerly esteemed of great use in all complaints 
thought to proceed from a disordered state of the nervous system : 
thus it was very generally recommended in melancholic and hypo- 
chondriacal affections, and in the opinion of Paracelsus, the 
primum ens Melisse promised a complete renovation of man: even 
Hoffman and Boerhaave, who were probably biassed by the Arabian 
physicians, deemed it an efficacious remedy.’ Simon Paulli* and) 
others speak of its effects as an emmenagogue; but neither this, 
nor indeed any other medicinal power, is now attributed to Balm. 
Prepared as tea, however, it makes a grateful diluent drink in 
fevers, and in this way it is commonly used either by itself or 
acidulated with the juice of lemons. 
- The essential oil, which Hoffman supposes to be a powerful 
corroberant of the nervous system, probably possesses no qualities — 
peculiarly different from many other aromatics and cordials, 
* Lewis, M. M. p. 417. * Quad. bot. p. 436, 
¢ Fr, Hoffman, Diss. de remed. domest.§. 20. Boerh. Chem. T’. i. p. 67. 
ee ne ae NRT FF LE 
MENTHA PIPERITA. PEPPER-MINT. 
——— 
SYNONYMA. Mentha piperitis. Pharm. Lond. & Edinb. 
Mentha spicis brevioribus & habitioribus, foliis menthe fusce, 
‘sapore fervido piperis, Raii Synop. p. 234. Hist. ». iii. p. 284. 
Mentha piperita. Hudson Flor. Ang. p. 251. Withering Bot. 
Arrang. p. 599. Relhan Flor. Cantab. p. 223. Icon. V. Kuigge 
Diss. de mentha piperitide. 
Class Didynamia. Ord. Gymnospermia. Lin. Gen. Plant. 713. 
Ess. Gen. Ch. Corolla subzequalis, A-fida, lacinia latiore emarginata. 
Stamina erecta, distantia, 
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