490 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



mustard, no specific toxic symptoms have been noted, but in speaking of white 

 mustard, he states that the essential oil of mustard is a virulent, irritant ooison, 

 causing, when ingested, severe burning, followed by increased heart action, and if 

 pushed to extremes, loss of sensibility, paralysis, stupor, rigors, and death. It 

 causes immediate vesication, followed by deep ulceration, which is difficult to 

 heal. 



Dr. White in his Dermatitis Venenata, says : 



The action of the sinapism is well known. In a few minutes after its application the 

 skin begins to feel warm, and by the end of a half-hour, if the patient bear it so long, 

 this sensation has increased to an intolerable burning. The changes in the cutaneous tissue 

 are, within a few minutes, a considerable degree of hyperaemia, which, after a time, increases 

 to an intense redness, which persists for a day or two, and often leaves behind it a per- 

 sistent pigmentation, at times of a dark brown color, to mark the seat of the sinapism. On 

 this account one should never be applied, upon the upper chest or other part of a woman 

 which the dress will not always conceal. If the action be continued beyond its legitimate 

 rubefacient effect, a period which varies greatly in persons, it may produce vesication, or 

 even deep suppuration, effects at times very intractable under treatment. It is stated that 

 the addition of vinegar to a mustard poultice greatly lessens its activity. 



Sarepta mustard (B. Besseriana) much resembles black mustard and is 

 used in the same way. Sarson or Indian colza (B. campcstris var. Sarson) is 

 used in India in place of white mustard and oil cakes made from it serve as 

 stock food. A brown variety (B. Napus var. dichotoma) is grown both as 

 an oil seed and as a vegetable. Another variety, Indian mustard (B. juncea) 

 is also known as of economic importance. 



The mustards of India are not always easy to distinguish. They have been 

 carefully studied by Col. Prain. 



Brassica Rapa causes inflammation of the bowels, tympanites, constipa- 

 tion, diarrhoea, some brain irritation, and haemorrhagic enteritis. The disease 

 is more common in Europe where rape seed is used as stock food. 



3. Radicula (Dill.) Hill 



Annual, biennial or perennial, usually glabrous herbs of pungent quali- 

 ties, pinnate, entire, or pinnatifid leaves; flowers yellow or white; calyx with 

 spreading sepals; pistil with short or slender style and 2-lobed, or entire 

 stigmas ; pod usually short, varying from oblong-linear to globular-terete ; seeds 

 numerous, small in 2 rows in each cell ; cotyledons accumbent. About 25 species 

 of wide distribution. 



Radicula Armoracia (L.) Robinson. Horse radish 



A stout perennial with long deep roots; leaves large, on thick petioles, 

 oblong, crenate, or pinnatifid, glabrous; stem leaves lanceolate, or oblong cordate; 

 flowers with 4 green sepals and 4 white petals, not common ; pods short, globular, 

 but fruit seldom found. 



Distribution. It is native to the eastern part of Europe, Turkey, Greece, 

 and the Caspian Sea through Russia, Poland and Finland. In Germany, 

 France, Sicily, Norway, and Great Britain, it has escaped from cultivation. 

 Common in Northern United States. 

 Radicula palustris (L.) Moench, var. hispida (Desv.) Robinson. Marsh Cress. 



An erect annual, or biennial, pubescent herb, from 1-2^ feet high; leaves 

 pinnately cleft or parted, or occasionally the upper laciniate; the lobes toothed; 



