HORSE RADISH. 143 



Virginia water parsnip ; S. fulcaria, decurrent water parsnip ; S. sicu- 

 lum, Sicilian water parsnip. 



S. sisarum ; leaves pinnate ; upper leaves in 3 J s, sharply cerrate ; 

 umbels terminate ; root fleshy, oblong, tuberous ; stalk a foot long, 

 terminated by an umbel of white flowers. China. 



HORSE RADISH, Cochlearia-amoracia, C. 15. Crucifera, sp. 11. 

 Fr. P. 3 ft, A common kitchen plant and species of the Scurvy grass, 

 the roots of which are much used on the table, cut into shreds in vin- 

 egar, and accompanying meats ; the herbage is also used as a winter 

 salad and in sauces. It is a native of this country and England, and 

 commonly found growing in ditches, marshes, or near farm houses. 

 Before its use upon the table, it was applauded for its medicinal vir- 

 tues. It stimulates the solids to activity ; and, from its warming na- 

 ture, is good for nervous diseases arising from cold and viscid juices. 

 As a condiment with fish or flesh, it creates and assists digestion, and 

 is recommended in hard dry coughs, and also on account of its pene- 

 tiating qualities, for rheumatism, scurvy, palsey, dropsy, &c., used in- 

 ternally or externally. It may be preserved all winter, by grating the 

 root when in perfection, and putting it in bottles filled with vinegar 

 and corked tight; or the roots may be preserved in dry sand. An in- 

 fusion of horse radish in cold milk is the best and safest cosmetic 

 known. It is easily cultivated, being propagated by the tops, 2 in- 

 ches long; and, for its virtues, merits much attention. The tops are 

 used as greens. It is grown best by trenching the soil and putting in 

 manure. A moist soil increases the bitter alkaline flavor of this and 

 all the cruciferous plants. All the scurvy grasses have powerful medi- 

 cinal properties, as antiscorbutic, sialagogue, and stimulating. 



When grated, the root evolves a highly penetrating acid vapor, ex- 

 citing a copious flow of tears ; and it is very pungent. Its composition is 

 acrid volatile oil, bitter resin, extractive, sugar, gum, starch, woody fi- 

 bre, vegetable albumen, acetic acid and acetate and sulphate of lime. It 

 causes vomiting when taken into the stomach in the form of an infu- 

 sion, and produces vesication when applied to the skin. Chewed, it 

 serves as an excellent masticatory. It may be used as an emetic, or 

 to promote the operation of others, particularly in poisoning by narco- 

 tic substances. It is a general stimulant, diaphoretic, and diuretic, 

 in small doses scraped into threads. The compound spirit is obtained 

 by macerating and boiling the root and seeds in water for 2 hours, and 

 straining, and then using it in small doses for chronic rheumatism, 

 paralysis, dropsy, and scurvy. 



The species are C. officinalis, common scurvy grass ; C. glastifolia, 

 wood-leafed scurvy grass ; C. armoracia, Horse radish ; root leaves, 

 oblong crenate; stem leaves lanceolate, gashed or entire; root peren- 

 nial, spindle-shaped, long, durable, acrid ; stem erect, leafy ; root- 

 leaves stalked, large, sometimes wing-cleft; flowers white, in loose 

 panicles. 



