_Obs._ Essence of peppermint is not conceived to be good by the ignorant
unless it has a pale-greenish tint, which they take as a proof of its
being genuine. The most harmless way of tinging it is that indicated
above. A little green mint or parsley will, indeed, be found to improve
the flavour. These additions are quite harmless. The practice of using
cupreous salts, adopted by some lazy and unprincipled makers, is
unpardonable, and admits of no excuse, even a lame one, as not the least
advantage, either of convenience, cost, or appearance, results from such a
practice, while the colouring matter, though small in quantity, is
nevertheless sufficient to impart a noxious quality to the liquid. This
fraud may be detected by the addition of liquor of ammonia in excess,
which will strike a bluish or greenish-blue colour when copper is present.
Essence of peppermint (like that of most of the other aromatic oils) is
cordial, stimulant, and stomachic. A few drops (10 to 30) on sugar, or
mixed with a little water or wine, is an excellent remedy in flatulence,
colic, nausea, sickness, &c. It is also extensively used as a flavouring
ingredient by cooks, confectioners, and druggists. A few drops, well
agitated with half a pint of cold water, form an excellent extemporaneous
peppermint water.
The formulæ 1 and 2, generally the latter, are those employed by the
respectable portion of the London trade. The various published receipts
for this and similar essences, ordering the essential oil in a larger
proportion than that directed above, are never adopted in practice, and
their products (often impossible combinations) exist only in the
imaginations of the writers.
=Essence of Pimen'to.= See ESSENCE OF ALLSPICE.
=Essence of Pine-apple.= From pine-apple oil (butyric ether, butyrate of
ethyl), as ESSENCE OF ALMONDS. It forms a delicious flavouring for
liqueurs, confectionery, rum, &c. See ETHER and OIL (Volatile).
=Essence of Quas'sia.= _Syn._ ESSENTIA QUASSIÆ, L. _Prep._ 1. From quassia
(sliced), 1-1/2 oz.; proof spirit, 1 pint; digest 10 days, and filter; 1/2
fl. dr. added to 7-1/2 fl. dr. of water, forms the infusion of quassia, of
the Ph. L.--_Dose_, 1/2 dr. in water or wine, an hour before a meal, as a
stomachic tonic, in dyspepsia, loss of appetite, &c., particularly when
complicated with gout; 1 to 2 dr., three or four times daily, as a
febrifuge, and antiseptic, in intermittents, putrid fevers, &c.
2. (Brewer's).--_a._ From powdered quassia (sprinkled with a little rum)
and "foots" (coarse moist sugar or sugar bottoms), equal parts, reduced to
the consistence of a semi-fluid extract by the addition of a few spoonfuls
of water. For ale.
_b._ From powdered quassia, 1 part; burnt sugar colouring, 2 parts; well
stirred together. For porter and stout. Both are used by fraudulent
brewers as substitutes for hops.
=Essence of Quin'ine.= _Syn._ ESSENTIA QUINÆ, L. _Prep._ From disulphate
of quinine, 1-1/2 oz.; rectified spirit, 1/2 pint; digest with warmth,
gradually dropping in a little dilute sulphuric acid (avoiding excess),
and employing constant agitation until the whole is dissolved. 1 fl. dr.,
added to 7 dr. of proof spirit, forms the 'TINCTURE OF QUININE' (Ph. L.).
Every fl. dr. contains 8 gr. of disulphate of quinine, or about 10 gr. of
the neutral sulphate. If more sulphuric acid is added than is sufficient
to dissolve the salt (_i. e._ convert it into a neutral sulphate), the
solution is apt to deposit part of it on keeping, owing to the gradual
formation of ether, by the action of the excess of acid on the alcohol.
=Essence of Rat'afia.= The same as Essence of Almonds. So called from
being used to flavour ratafias, noyeau, and other liqueurs.
=Essence of Rhu'barb.= _Syn._ ESSENTIA RHEI, L. _Prep._ From rhubarb (in
powder) and siliceous sand, of each 5 oz.; proof spirit, 1 pint; by the
method of displacement. Every fl. oz. represents the active virtues of 2
dr. of rhubarb.
=Essence of Rondele'tia.= _Prep._ 1. Essence (oil) of bergamotte, essence
(oil) of lemon, and oil of cloves, of each 1 dr.; otto of roses, 10 drops;
rectified spirit, 1 pint.
2. To the last add, of oil of lavender, 1 dr.; neroli, 15 drops. A very
fashionable and agreeable perfume.
=Essence of Rose'mary.= _Syn._ ESSENTIA ROSEMARINI, L. _Prep._ From oil of
rosemary, as ESSENCE OF ALLSPICE. Used as a perfume; also to make
extemporaneous rosemary water.
=Essence of Ro'ses.= _Syn._ ESSENTIA ROSÆ (ODORATA), L. _Prep._ 1. Attar
of roses (genuine), 2 dr.; alcohol, 1 pint; agitate frequently until they
unite.
2. Attar of roses, 1 oz.; rectified spirit, 1 gall.; mix in a close
vessel, and assist the solution by placing it in a bath of hot water. (See
ESSENCE OF MUSK.) As soon as the spirit gets warm, take it from the water
and shake it till quite cold; the next day filter.--_Obs._ Unless the
spirit of wine is of more than the common strength, it will not retain the
whole of the otto in solution in very cold weather.
3. To each pint of either of the preceding, add, of oil of bergamotte, 30
drops; neroli and essence of musk, of each 20 drops.
4. Petals of roses, 3 lbs., digest in spirit of wine, 5 quarts, for 24
hours; distil to dryness in a water bath; digest the distilled spirit on 2
lbs. of fresh rose petals, as before, and repeat the whole process of
maceration and distillation, a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time, or
oftener, the last time only drawing over 1 gall., which is the essence.
Each of the above is very superior. The last has a peculiar delicacy of
flavour, when the spirit used to make it is pure.
=Essence of Roses (Red).= _Syn._ ESSENTIA ROSÆ (RUBRA), TINCTURA E.
CONCENTRATA, L. _Prep._ From rose leaves, 1 lb.; proof spirit, 1 gall.;
digest for 14 days, press, strain, add concentrated acetic acid, 2-1/2 fl.
dr.; mix well, and the next day filter. Used to make extemporaneous SYRUP
and HONEY OF ROSES, &c. Smells, colours, and tastes strongly of the
flower. CONCENTRATED INFUSION OF ROSES is sold under the same name.
=Essence Royale.= [Fr.] _Prep._ 1. (Soubeiran.) Ambergris, 40 gr.; musk,
20 gr.; civet and carbonate of potassa, of each 10 gr.; oil of cinnamon, 6
drops; oil of rhodium and otto of roses, of each 4 drops; rectified spirit
of wine, 4 fl. oz. (say 1/4 pint); macerate for 10 days or longer.
Antispasmodic and aphrodisiac. A few drops on sugar, or in syrup of
capillaire.