MINT. 139 



Externally it may be employed dry in little bags, or in cata- 

 plasms or fomentations to chronic swellings, indolent tumours, 

 and certain foul ulcers. The essential oil is added to gargles 

 for indolent swellings of the gums, and to liniments to rub on 

 parts affected with chronic rheumatism ; it is also applied to 

 ease the pain of carious teeth. 



The dried plant is given in powder in the dose of two drachms 

 every two hours, but it is seldom employed in this way. One 

 of the best preparations is the infusion in the form of tea, which 

 may be made with two drachms of the dried plant to a half 

 pint of hot water, to be taken at one dose. It may also be 

 macerated in wine. The officinal preparations are a distilled 

 water, essential oil, and spirit. 



PEPPER-MINT WATER*. 



Take of Pepper-Mint dried two pounds ; 



Proof spirit seven ounces ; 



Water two gallons. 



Distil a gallon. 



This is a useful carminative in spasmodic pains of the sto- 

 mach, in the dose of one to three ounces, or a wine-glassful. " In 

 the present day, however, it is principally employed as a vehicle 

 to conceal the more nauseous drugs. This renders the medi- 

 cine so extremely common, that its peculiar properties are 

 generally overlooked, and little care is devoted to the right 

 preparation of the article. In most shops, instead of the dis- 

 tilled water, they merely unite mechanically a quantity of the 

 essential oil with common water, and a small quantity of sugar. 

 Where this composition is substituted for the proper distilled 

 water, a great degree of heat and restlessness, with an uneasy 

 burning sensation at the stomach, is not unfrequently produced, 

 which is immediately relieved by having recourse to the genuine 

 distilled water." f 



The essential oil is obtained from the distilled water in the 

 usual manner. It is a favourite domestic remedy in flatulent 

 pains and cramp of the stomach, faintness, nausea, &c, a drop 

 or two being taken upon a lump of sugar J. What is called 



* Aqua Menthse Piperita?. — Pharm. L. E. D. 

 f Waller, Brit. Dom. Herb. p. 239. 



J Pepper-Mint lozenges are a mixture of oil of Pepper -Mint with 

 starch, sugar, and mucilage of tragacanth. 



