37 2 LABIATE 



ACTION AND USES. Carminative and diffusive stimulant. Dose: 15 to 



60 gr, (i to 4 Gm.). 

 OFFICIAL PREPARATION. 



Spiritus Menthae Piperitae (i per cent.), . . . Dose: 15 to 30 itjj (i to 2 mils). 



473 a. OLEUM MENTILE PIPERITAE, U.S. 



A volatile oil distilled from peppermint. A colorless, or yellowish, or 

 greenish-yellow liquid, turning darker and thicker by age and expo- 

 sure to the air, having a strongly aromatic, pungent taste, foUowed 

 by a sensation of cold when air is drawn into the mouth. Its composi- 

 tion is very complex, consisting of a number of terpenes, aldehydes, 

 and acids: pinene, phellandrene, cineol, dipentene, limonene, men- 

 thone, and menthol, etc. In a freezing mixture the oil becomes 

 cloudy and thick, and will separate crystals of menthol (473 b). The 

 oil yields not less than 5 per cent, of esters calculated as methyl 

 acetate and not less than 50 per cent, of total menthol. 



OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS. 



Aqua Menthae Piperitae (0.2 per cent.),. . .Dose: 4 fl. dr. (15 mils). 

 Spiritus Menthae Piperitae (10 per cent.), . 15 to SOTTJJ (i to 2 mils). 



473 b. MENTHOL 



A secondary alcohol from the official oil of peppermint (from Mentha 

 piperita Smith), or from Japanese or Chinese oil of peppermint (from 

 Menlha arvensis Linne, variety piperascens Holmes, and Mentha cana- 

 densis Linne, variety glabrata Holmes). Colorless, acicular or pris- 

 matic crystals, having a strong and pure odor of peppermint, and a 

 warm, aromatic taste, followed by a sensation of cold when air is 

 drawn into the mouth. It is slightly soluble in water, freely soluble 

 in olive-oil, and very soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and in 

 petroleum benzin. When menthol is triturated with about an 

 equal part by weight of camphor, thymol or hydrated chloral, the 

 mixture becomes liquid. 



Lubulinski recommends the use of a solution of menthol in liquid 

 paraffine for acute coryza. Dose: 0.06 Gm. (i gr.). 



474. MENTHA VIRIDIS. SPEARMINT 



The dried'leaves and flowering tops of Men'tha spica'ta Linne". 

 DESCRIPTION. The leaves of the spearmint resemble those of the pep- 

 permint, but the former are rather subsessile. The branches of the 

 spearmint are mostly light green, while those of the peppermint are 

 often purplish. The stamens of the spearmint are exserted, while 



