Spear-mint is also like Pepper-mint a great Stomachic, and therefore constantly used.
Recipe for one Gallon of Spear-mint-water.
Take of the Leaves of dried Spear-mint one Pound and a half; Water two Gallons and a half; draw off by a gentle Fire one Gallon.
This Water, like that drawn from Pepper-mint, will be more fragrant if distilled in Balneum Mariæ, or the cold Still; but if the latter be used, the same Caution must be observed of distilling the Plant green.
CHAP. XII.
Of Baum-water.
Baum is a plant well known in our Gardens. It flowers in July, and is of a fine cordial Flavour; but so weak, that it is soon dissipated and lost; nor is it easy to dry it so as to preserve its natural Scent.
Baum-water, therefore should be drawn when the Plant is green; and in order to procure the Water in full Perfection, it should be cohobated, or returned several times upon fresh Parcels of the Plant; by this means a Water may be procured from Baum extremely rich, and of considerable Use as a Cordial.
If the Balneum Mariæ be used, the Water is much better than that drawn by an Alembic. The Water drawn from this Plant by the cold Still will also be very fragrant, and highly impregnated with the Virtues of the Plant.
CHAP. XIII.
Of Penny-royal-water.
Penny-royal, a Plant very common in England, is very warm, and its Parts very subtile and penetrating: It is one of the first Plants in Esteem in the present Practice, as well as in former Ages, as an Attenuant and Uterine. It is good in Flatulences and Suppressions of Urine, and by many is greatly recommended in Dropsies, Jaundices, and other chronic Distempers. It communicates its Virtues to Water in Infusion, and its simple Water has, perhaps, more Virtue than any other kept in the Shops. But as it is requisite in order to obtain a Water fully impregnated with the Virtues of Baum, to cohobate it on fresh Parcels of the Plant; the Water drawn from green Penny-royal, on the contrary, generally contains so large a Portion of the essential Oil, that it is necessary to separate what floats on the Surface of the Water, by the Separating-glass.