CRUCIFERAE— RADICULA 



491 



Fig. 256b. Horse radish. (C. M. King). 



Upper leaves nearly sessile; pedicels as long as the small flowers, generally 

 longer than the pods ; pods ovoid or oblong ; styles short. 



Distribution. Common in northern portions of United States, to the Gulf 

 and west to the coast; also Canada. Native to Europe. 



Medical and poisonous properties. It is certain that horse radish and other 

 members of this genus have properties somewhat similar to those of the mus- 

 tards mentioned above. Horse radish contains both sinigrin and myrosin. Dr. 

 Rusby mentions that it may produce serious trouble. He says: 



The common horse radish, likewise, loses its irritating properties when heated or dried. 

 These are almost identical with those of mustard, and while it would not generally be re- 

 garded as a poisonous article, yet used in excess it may become so through its powerful 

 irritation of the urinary organs, by which it is excreted. Johnson gives a case in which 

 this result was extreme and serious. It may therefore be borne in mind that it should not 

 be consumed in inordinate quantity. This result, should it occur, would be found ex- 

 cruciatingly painful. 



Dr. Johnson in his Manual of Medical Botany of North America, writes 

 as follows: 



The acrid principles of these plants appear, clinically, to be eliminated by the kidneys, 

 and hence, incidentally, they produce a decided diuretic effect. The urine is not only in- 

 creased in quantity, but partakes also of the acrid character of the plant employed. In one 

 case that came under the author's observation, the individual, though in perfect health, so 

 far as the genito-urinary tract was concerned, suffered extremely from vesical pain and 

 irritation for hours after using horse-radish as a condiment. In animals it produces a 

 violent colic. 



