ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

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oil of peppermint only, though flour is sometimes introduced-'liqueur sold at the spirit-shops as peppermint is used as a cordial-

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Mentha Pule'gium, Linn. L. E. D.— Pennyroyal.

Sex. Syst. Ditlynamia, Gymnospermia.

(Herba, D. —Herb, E.)

History. —This plant was employed in medicine by the ancientand Romans. It is the £kt)x b,v of Hippocrates (p.359, &c- e “'and Dioscorides (lib. iii. cap. xxxvi.), and the Pulegium of Pliny 'Nat. lib. xx. cap. 54, ed. Valp.)

Botany. Gen. Char. —See Mentha viridis. . , tc d,

Sp. Char. — Stem very much branched, prostrate. Leavesovate. Whorls all remote, globose, many-flowered. Calyxes n -1bilabiate, villous in the inside of the throat (Bentliam)—Cret’l °

rooted. . A nati' e

Hab .—Wet commons and margins of brooks. Indigenous. Aof most parts of Europe , of the Caucasus, Chili, and Teneriffe. _

Properties. —The herb with the flowers ( herba seu sumin ^ a \ on s ;legii) is employed in medicine. It has a strong but peculiar 0a hot, aromatic, bitter taste, followed by a feeling of coolnessmouth. Sesquichloride of iron causes a green colour ( tannate ojwith the cold infusion of pennyroyal. bilt ef

Composition. —Its principal constituents are volatile oil, amatter, resin?, tannic acid, and woody fibre. ^

Oil of Pennyroyal (Oleum Mentha Pulegii) has a pale colour, a warm taste, ®” cl)l n'peculiar odour of the herb. It boils, like oil of turpentine, at 314® 1.; and () j|s

posed, according to Mr. Kane, of C 10 118, so that its composition is similar 10 ti>of turpentine, juniper, savin, lemon, &c. The fresh herb yields from 1'l-100tli of its weight of oil (Brande, Diet . Mat. Med. p. 357).

Physiological Effects. — Its effects are analogous to the ^mints. Emmenagogue and antispasmodic properties are ascribedby the public, and formerly by medical practitioners. - c; d

Uses. — A popular remedy for obstructed menstruation, hy s “ i;J jcomplaints, and hooping-cough. Rarely employed by the proles-’man. The following are its officinal preparations, with their uses •

1. Oleum Menthm Pulegii, L. E. U.; Oleum Pulegii, offic-^v^jtained by submitting the herb to distillation with water). Its

and chemical properties have been already described. It is studand carminative ; and is used, as an antispasmodic and einnienag°bin doses of from gtt. ii. to gtt. v. taken on sugar. v al

2. Spiritus Mentha; Pulegii, L.—(Prepared with Oil of Penny r

as the Spiritus Mentha viridis). Usually prepared by dissolvingoil in spirit. Stimulant and carminative. Employed as an a t^Y amodic and carminative. Dose, f3ss. to f3u. Essence of I ^

(prepared by dissolving f 3 i. of the volatile oil infSi. of rectified - S Pmay be given in doses of from gtt. x. to gtt. xx. /pj-e-

3. Aqua Mentha; Pulegii, L. E. D.; Aqua Pulegii, offic.-'-'i se>pared like Aqua Mentha viridis). Carminative and stomachic.

fji. to fsiij. The liquid sold in the shops as pennyroyal and t owater is prepared by adding f3ss. of the compound spirit of bry°

Oss. of pennyroyal water.