266 SPEARMINT. 



the flow of the menses. For worms in children it is 

 given in teaspoonful doses of the powder in treacle 

 morning and evening. The infusion of i ounce of 

 herb to a pint of boiling water is taken in wineglassful 

 doses. 



Preparation Fluid extract: Dose, -1 drachm. 



Distinctive character Leaves greyish green, 

 stalked, twice pinnate, with very slender, linear, pointed 

 segments, covered with minute white pubescence. 

 Taste, bitterish, aromatic. Odour, sweet, characteristic. 



SPEARMINT. Mentha vlridis, Linn. 



N.O. Labiate. 



Syn. Mackerel Mint, Mentha spicata, Linn. 

 Part used Herb. 



Action Stimulant, carminative, antispasmodic. This 

 herb is added to many compounds on account of its 

 carminative properties and its pleasant taste. The 

 infusion of i ounce in a pint of boiling water is taken in 

 doses of a wineglassful or less as may be required. For 

 infantile troubles generally the sweetened infusion is an 

 excellent remedy. 



Preparations Fluid extract : Dose, J-i drachm. 

 Oil. Water B. P. and U.S.P.: Dose, 4 drachms. Spirit 

 U.S. P.: Dose, 30 drops. 



Distinctive character The true Spearmint has 

 sessile, elliptic-oblong, sharply-serrate leaves, smooth 

 and strongly-ribbed below. Taste and odour, charac- 

 teristic. Flowers in axillary whorls approximated so as 

 to form a tapering spike. In Mentha cardiaca,]. G. Baker, 

 which is sometimes sold as Spearmint, the leaves are 

 smaller, and the whorls of flowers are distant and 

 leafy. 



