MINT. 209 



pound called " Hotan," of which menthol \Yas one of the principal 

 ingredients. The Chinese peppermint oil is sold in small bottles 

 under the name of " Po-ho-vo." 



Peppermint is known in Kwang-tung by the following 

 characters : — 





The Leaf, or Dried Herb. 



Menthol. 



Peppermint Oil. 



It is only within recent years that the value of menthol has 

 been recognised by Western nations. The Lancet drew attention 

 to it in 1879, and since that period many medical men, both in 

 Europe and America, have published their experiences of it as a 

 remedy for such diseases as headache, neuralgia, toothache, 

 epidemic influenza, etc. So popular has this specific become that 

 at the present day by far the largest proportion of the menthol 

 produced is employed in the manufacture of menthol cones, which 

 are made use of as a household remedy for nervous diseases such 

 as those mentioned. 



Menthol intended for the manufacture of cones must be without 

 a trace of oil of peppermint, as the smallest percentage of this 

 latter lowers the melting point so much as to render it quite 

 unsuitable for this purpose. 



Menthol cones are made in the same way as suppositories, the 

 menthol being first fused and then poured into metal moulds. The 

 fixing of the cones in the wooden cases is accomplished by simply 

 heating the proper end of the cone in a small flame in the same 

 way as sealiug-wax is heated, and quickly placing it in the recess. 

 "Wooden cases are preferable to those made of metal, the latter, 

 owing to the property metal possesses of being a good conductor, 

 being apt to get heated in warm weather : the result is that the 

 menthol which touches the metal melts, and the cone becomes 

 p 



