Rosmarini Oleum. English Oil of Rosemary. The oil distilled in England from the flowering tops of Rosmarinus officinalis, or rosemary; Lin. Syst., Diandria monogynia; growing chiefly on the hills in the South of Europe.

Prop. & Comp. This oil has the fragrant odour and taste of the plant, colourless, sp. gr. 0.888. It is an oxidized oil or a hydrocarbon (C20 H16) containing a species of camphor (C20 H16 O2) in solution.

Off. Prep. Spiritus Rosmarini. Spirit of Rosemary. [Not officinal in U. S. P.] (English oil of rosemary, one fluid ounce; rectified spirit, nine fluid ounces.) This preparation contains about thirty-one times as much oil of rosemary as Spiritus Rosmarini. Lond. 1851.

The oil of rosemary is contained also in Tinct. Lavand. comp. and Linimentum saponis.

Therapeutics. A powerful stimulant; useful in hysteria, and nervous headaches; externally it is used as a rubefacient and for its odour.

Dose. Of the oil, 1 min. to 5 min.; of the spirit, 10 min. to 50 min., or more.

Lavandulae Oleum. English Oil of Lavender. The oil distilled in England from the flower of Lavandula vera or Common Lavender; Lin. Syst., Diandria monogynia; a native of Southern Europe; much cultivated in gardens in Surrey. Oil of Spike (French Lavender) is often used in lieu of the English oil.

Description, Prop. & Comp. Oil of Lavender, which gives the odour and taste to the plant, is of a pale yellow colour, and a hot bitter aromatic taste. Sp. gr. 0.877. It is an oxidized volatile oil or a hydrocarbon (C20 H16) containing a camphor (C20 H16 O2) dissolved in it.

Off. Prep. Spiritus Lavandulae. Spirit of Lavender. (English oil of lavender, one fluid ounce; rectified spirit, nine fluid ounces.) [Fresh lavender, twenty-four troy ounces; alcohol, eight pints; water, two pints. Distil eight pints. U. S.]

Tinctura Lavandulae Composita. Compound Tincture of Lavender. (Oil of lavender, one fluid drachm and a half; oil of rosemary, ten minims; cinnamon and nutmeg, bruised, each one hundred and fifty grains; red sandalwood, three hundred grains; rectified spirit, forty fluid ounces. Prepared by maceration.) [Spiritus Lavandulae Compositus. Compound Spirits of Lavender. U. S. Oil of lavender, a fluid ounce; oil of rosemary, two fluid drachms; cinnamon, in powder, two troy ounces; cloves, in powder, half a troy ounce; nutmeg, in powder, a troy ounce; red saunders, in powder, three hundred and sixty grains; alcohol, six pints; water, two pints; diluted alcohol, a sufficient quantity. The oils are dissolved in the alcohol, the water added; the mixed powders are percolated with this fluid, and sufficient diluted alcohol to make the percolate amount to eight pints.]

Oil of lavender is contained also in lin. camphor. comp.

Therapeutics. Oil of lavender is stimulant and carminative; used in hysteria, hypochondriasis, and other nervous affections, also in flatulence and colic.

Dose. Of the oil, 1 min. to 5 min.; of spirit of lavender, 10 min. to 50 min.; of the compound tincture, 20 min. to 1 fl. drm. or more.

Adulteration. Oil of spike is sometimes mixed or substituted for the true oil of lavender; oil of turpentine is also mixed with it.

Menthae Piperitee Oleum. English Oil of Peppermint. The oil distilled in England from the fresh flowering plant of Mentha Piperita, Peppermint; Lin. Syst., Didynamia gymnospermia; indigenous, growing in damp places.

Prop. & Comp. The peppermint plant owes its virtues to the presence of the Volatile oil, which is colourless or pale-yellow, having the odour of peppermint, with a warm aromatic taste, succeeded by a sensation of coldness in the mouth. Sp. gr. 0.92. It is an oxidized volatile oil, or a hydrocarbon (C20 H18) containing a camphor (C20 H18+ 2 HO) dissolved in it.

Off. Prep. Aqua Menthae Piperitae. Peppermint Water. (English oil of peppermint, one fluid drachm and a half; water, one gallon and a half; distil one gallon). [Oil of peppermint, half a fluid drachm; carbonate of magnesia, sixty grains; distilled water, two pints. Rub the oil with the magnesia, then with the water, and filter. U. S.]

Spiritus Menthae Piperitae. Spirit of Peppermint. (English oil of peppermint, one fluid ounce; rectified spirit, nine fluid ounces.) This spirit contains about forty-seven times as much oil of peppermint as spiritus menthae piperitae. Lond. [Oil of peppermint, a fluid ounce; peppermint, in powder, one hundred and twenty grains; stronger alcohol, fifteen fluid ounces. U. S.]

Therapeutics. Oil of peppermint is stimulant and carminative; used as an adjunct to purgatives, to correct flatulency, etc.

Dose. Of the oil, 1 min. to 5 min.; of the aqua menthae pip., 1 fl. oz. to 2 fl. oz. of spirit. menthae pip., 5 min. to 50 min.

Menthae Viridis Oleum. English Oil of Spearmint. The oil distilled in England from the fresh herb when in flower of Mentha viridis, Spearmint; Lin. Syst., Didynamia gymnosper-mia; indigenous, growing in marshy places.

Prop. & Comp. The plant owes its virtues to the Volatile oil. which is colourless or pale yellow with the odour and taste of spearmint, sp. gr. 0.914. It is an oxidized volatile oil or a hydrocarbon (C20 H10 O2), containing a camphor in solution.

Off. Prep. Aqua Menthae Viridis. Spearmint Water. (English oil of spearmint, one fluid drachm and a half; water, one gallon and a half. Distil one gallon.) [Oil of spearmint, half a fluid drachm; carbonate of magnesia, six grains; distilled water two pints. Rub the oil with the magnesia, then with the water, and filter. U. S.]

[Spiritus Menthae Viridis. Spirit of Spearmint. U. S. Oil of spearmint, a fluid ounce; spearmint, in coarse powder, one hundred and twenty grains; stronger alcohol, fifteen fluid ounces.]

Therapeutics. Spearmint oil is stimulant and carminative; and is used as an adjunct to purgative medicines, to correct flatulency, etc.

Dose. Of the oil, 1 min. to 5 min.; of aqua menthae viridis, 1 fl. oz. to 2 fl. oz.