THE PEDALTO INSTITUTION FOR INCORPORATED ART

 
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DEPARTMENT OF ANCIENT REMEDIES

DIRECTOR   Ravid David

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The ethereal oil of peppermint, known by the name of menthol, has recently been the subject of many investigations by Savignac, MacDonald, Rosenthai, and others. The latest observer is A. Schmidt (Centrlb. f. d.' Med. Wiss., 31, 1885). All authors agree that we have in menthol a remedy very similar in its effects to cocaine. While it is undoubtedly a narcotic, its action is not like morphia or atropia, from the centre to the periphery, but it has a purely local effect, and, therefore, greatly resembles in this respect cocaine. When applied to the conjunctiva of the eye or to the Schneiderian mucous membrane of the nose it soon causes complete anaesthesia. It also seems to be a good remedy in neuralgia, but appears to act best in those cases where the pain seems to be deep and not superficial. To insure its anodyne or anaesthetic effect, a ten per cent, solution must be employed; one made with alcohol acts more rapidly and promptly than one with almond oil, but is also decidedly more irritating. It may be well to try the remedy in migraine, especially as its simple local application is all that is necessary to develop its anodyne effect