NEW DRUGS. 99 



Mentha arvensis, var. piperascens. — A Chinese herb be- 

 longing to the Labiatese. It yields an oil which contains a 

 large quantity of a crystalline substance known as Menthol 

 or Peppermint Camphor. This substance began to attract 

 attention in 1879, since which time Menthol has become an 

 increasing article of trade, and is much used in cases of 

 neuralgia, toothache, etc., by rubbing it on th.e parts affected. 

 A similar crystalline principle is obtained in India from 

 the oil expressed from the seeds of Garum copiicum. The 

 Chinese peppermint plant has been recommended for culti- 

 vation in England, and especially in Ireland, where the 

 climate is moist and labour cheap. 



Myrtus cheken. — An evergreen climber belonging to 

 the natural order Myrtacese, and native of Chili, where it is 

 known as Cheques, and is in great repute as a medicine in 

 inflammation of the eyes, in diarrhoea, and other disorders, for 

 which purposes it was introduced into this country in 1881. 

 Though, the plant has been cultivated in our greenhouses 

 for many years, it flowered for the first time at Kew in 1866. 



FauUinia sorbilis. — A woody climber belonging to the 

 ratural order Sapindacese, and native of the Northern and 

 Western parts of Brazil. The seeds, which are like small 

 horse-chestnuts, are used in Brazil in the preparation of a 

 beverage and as a medicine. To prepare them the seeds are 

 dried, powdered, mixed with water, and kneaded into a 

 kind of dough, then made into rolls, or moulded into various 

 forms, and known as Guaran.4, Guarana Bread, or 

 Brazilian Cocoa. It is regarded as a tonic; febrifuge, 

 nutritive, and to some extent narcotic. As a nervous stimu- 

 lant, it is analogovis to tea and coffee, and has been recom- 

 mended in this country in nervous headache, neuralgia, 

 paralysis, and diarrhoea. It can be administered either in 

 the form of a substance, as a beverage, or mixed with cocoa 

 or chocolate. It was introduced to notice in this country 

 firstly in 1856, and again in 1870. 

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