AROMATICS. 43 



The following aromatic herbs are often used: 'Lavender^ — the 

 flowering tops of the Lavandula vera. Lavender water consists of 

 the volatile oil dissolved in alcohol : it is used as a perfume. 



Lavender Compound — Tine. Lavandulce Composita — is used for 

 the same purposes as the compound tincture of cardamom. 



Rosemary — flowering tops of the Rosmarinus ojficinalis. It 

 contains a very stimulant volatile oil, used as an ingredient in 

 opodeldoc. 



Peppermint — Mentha piperita — abounds in a volatile oil much 

 used; dissolved in alcohol, it forms the essence of peppermint^ em- 

 ployed for relieving nausea and slight colic. 



Peppermint water is made by rubbing up the oil with the carbo- 

 nate of magnesia, and then adding water. The herb, when fresh 

 bruised and applied to the stomach, will frequently relieve nausea 

 and pain. 



Spearmint — Mentha viridis — is analogous in properties. 



Pennyroyal, — Hedeoma — is very similar to the mints in pro- 

 perties, but rather more powerful. 



Balm — Melissa, and Marjoram — Origanum, are also strongly 

 allied in properties to the foregoing. 



Partridge-berry — Gaultheria — contains a very heavy volatile 

 oil, which is an ingredient in the compound syrup of sarsaparilla. 



Ginger. — (Zingiber, U. S.) 



Root of the Zingiber officinale, a perennial, herbaceous plant, 

 growing in the East and West Indies. Several varieties are found 

 in the shops. Sometimes the recent root, in a state of vegetation, 

 is sent to the market, constituting gree7i ginger ; sometimes the root 

 is dug up, scalded to prevent germination, and then dried, consti- 

 tuting common black ginger ; again, the best pieces are selected, 

 the outer skin removed, so as to give it a white appearance, and 

 imported as ichite giJiger. The latter comes from the West Indies. 



Colour of the powder, light yellowish-white; odour, powerful and 

 peculiar ; taste, strong, aromatic, and biting. Tt contains a volatile 

 oil and an acrid resin. 



It is a grateful stimulant and carminative ; used to expel flatus 

 from the bowels ; employed also as an adjuvant to the bitter tonics, 

 in cases of dyspepsia. It is apt to be much deteriorated by age. 



Given in powder, infusion, tincture and syrup. Dose of powder, 

 10 to 30 grs. ; of the infusion, made with fjss. to the pint, f3ij ; 

 of the tincture, f3j to f3ij. The syrup is used generally for flavour- 

 ing. Externally applied, it acts as a rubefacient. 



Sweet Flag. — (Calamus, U. S.) 



Root of the Acorns calamus, a plant growing in marshes. Its 

 eflfects on the system, and uses are very similar to those of ginger. 



