MINT. 137 



vivoo-pos, (from v)$v; t sweet, oo-poq, odour,) in those of Dioscorides, 

 but to what species they refer is uncertain. Pliny designates 

 it Menta. 



There are thirteen species of Mint indigenous to Britain *, 

 several of which have analogous though inferior properties to 

 the species here figured. Spear Mint (M. viridis) resembles 

 the Pepper Mint in habit, but is specifically distinguished by 

 its more slender sessile leaves, and longer spikes of uniform 

 purple flowers. The hairy Mint, (M. hirsuta,) which grows on 

 the banks of rivers, may also be confounded with it, especially 

 as it is very variable in habit, and has much of the odour of 

 Pepper Mint ; it may be discriminated, however, by the hairs 

 on the calyx, the pubescent leaves, the hirsute stem, and by 

 the usually capitate flowers. 



Qualities — Dioscorides -j* relates that Mint (probably 

 Spear Mint or Mentha viridis) hinders the coagulation of milk, 

 and prevents its being made into cheese ; more recent authorities 

 have stated the same fact, and Linnaeus J mentions, that 

 dairy-maids frequently complain that much less than the usual 

 quantity of cheese is obtained from the milk of cows which, 

 after harvest, are allowed to feed on the Corn Mint, (M. arven- 

 sis,) but they ascribe the effect to enchantment. Lewis ob- 

 serves, that milk in which the leaves of Mint are macerated, 

 curdles much less quickly than pure milk. 



The essential oil of this plant, for the sake of its aromatic 

 fragrance, is used by perfumers, and is employed in various 

 ways by confectioners, especially to form lozenges ; the solution 

 of it in alcohol or gin, forms the well known liqueur or dram 

 called pepper-mint. 



Pepper Mint has a strong, spirituous, camphor-like odour 

 and a pungent, aromatic, bitterish taste, producing at first an 

 impression of warmth in the mouth, which is immediately fol- 

 lowed by a diffusive sensation of coldness. Its qualities are 

 rather increased by drying. The aqueous infusion is of a red- 

 dish brown, and the spirituous of a greenish colour ; both are 

 imbued with the virtues of the plant. Either the fresh or dried 



* See Hooker's British Flora. 



f Mat. Med. lib. iii. c. 41. 



% Amaen. Acad. (Mentha Usus.) 



