Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/239

M I S 5ng t^e roots ; and, as Its flavour is more agreeable than that of most other species of this plant, it is ge- lierally preferred for oulinary pnr- posr-s. — The leaves of the Spear- mint, when prepared with sugar, ■form a delicious conserve; and the distilled waters, both spirituous and simple, are highly esteemed for their mil hiess and plerisaut taste. —The leTvc-^ are eaten in th ■ spring as a s^nlad ; and their juice, when boiled with sugar, is formed into lozenges. 4. Tiie pif)erif.(i, of Pepper- mint, growing in watery places, and on the banks of rivulets ; flow- ering in the months of August and September. — Its stem and leaves abound with minute vesicles con- taining a very pungent essential oil, that rises in distillation. — This species is the strongest and most aromatic of the mints, on which account it is alone used in medicine, and the lio,uor prepared from it, is known under the name of Pepper- 'inhit-u'nfer. — Being an excellent stomachic, it is but too often u.sed in cases of impaired appetite, fla- tulence, colics, nausea, and incli- mtion to vomit. It has also occa- sionally been found of service in hysteric afl"e6Hons ; and, however harmless in it.self, when considered as a simple water, this exhilarathig carminat'we is so far a dangerous domestic medicine, as v/iih many nervous and irritable persons, it is apt to introduce a habit of tasting the stronger spirituous hquors. MlKI'.OR. See LoOKlNG-GL.'iSS. Miser. See Avarice. INIISSELTOE, the Common, White Misseltoc, or Missel ; P'is- cum htliim, L. a parasitical plant growing on Apple and Pear-tree.';, ihe Hawthorn, Service, Oak, Ma- MIT [217 pie, Sec. ; flowering in the mondi of May. From the berries, as well as tlie ■b:n-kof this plant, good bird-lime mav be prepared ; and, if the for- mer be rubbed, wh;'.n fully ripe, on the bark of almost any tree, they will adhere closely, and pro- duce plants in the succeeding win- ter. Fieldfares and thrushes eat the Misseltoe berries, the seeds of which pass through them unchang- ed, and along with their excre- ments adhere to the branches of trees, where they vegetate. — No art has yet induced the Missel- toe to take root in the earth. -^ Sheep eagerly devour this plant, ■which is frequently cut off the trees t'or them, during .severe win- ters ; nay, it is even sard to pre- serve these animals from the rot.' Professor Bock, in his Natural History of Prussia (vol. iii. p. 367> Germ, edit.), informs us, that poor people have often, in times of scar- city, collected and dried tije stalks and branchesof the Mis.^eltoe; then puivenzed and mixed them with rye-flour; and thus obtair.ed nou- rishing bread, which was by no means unwho'esome. — Professor Lkonhardi, in a similar work, observesthat the Mi.ssciloe, or bird- lime, when combined with soap- boilers' suds, atlbrds a good substi- tute for soap, and is ahkc soiable- in water and spirit of wine. Mist. See Fog. MIIE, or Acnrus, L. a genus of inse(l:ts, consisting of 35 species, the [■principal of whii h is the Asiro, Common, or Cheese-mite. Itis very small, and when flrst hatched, is so extremely minute as to be scared V perceptible bv the naked eye. Though principally infesting cheese.