Botanic Drugs 



known. It has been disappointing as a remedy, 

 for it was once considered as a nervine and anti- 

 spasmodic. Salvia officinalis, SAGE, widely official 

 but has been deleted from the U. S. P. IX. It is a 

 tonic-astringent of value as a gargle and culinary 

 flavor. Thymus is separately considered. MOUN- 

 TAIN MINT, Pycnanthemum incanum, and P. lini- 

 folium, VIRGINIA THYME, are disagreeable mints 

 no longer used to any extent. 



It seems to me that the mints contain aromatic 

 substances stearoptenes, etc. that should be 

 studied as regards their action in the blood-stream. 

 Under "Echinacea," q. v., and elsewhere, reference 

 has been made to this matter. The well-known 

 action of camphor, q. v., a stearoptene, illustrates 

 the thought. Two of the mints, peppermint and 

 thyme, contain stearoptenes, and other mints prob- 

 ably do also. Menthol and thymol, when injected, 

 produce a positive pharmacologic action somewhat 

 similar to that of camphor. Also read what was 

 said under "Inula," which contains an alant- 

 camphor. 



"PLANTEX" and "AUTOLYSIN" are proprietary 

 products of similar formula, but the product made 

 up each according to the ideas of the producers. 

 The formula was given in the N. Y. Med. Jour, for 

 Feb. 19, 1916, in an article upon Autolysin; it is as 

 follows : 



Grams. 



Menyanthes trif oliata (leaves) 8.0 



Melilotus officinalis (leaves) 8.0 



Mentha crispa (leaves) 8.0 



Brassica alba (seeds) 20 . 



Anemone hepatica (leaves) 7.5 



