188 PROPERTIES OF MUSTARD. 



Physiological effects of mustard Mustard was employed medicin- 

 ally by the ancients and is now an important article of the materia 

 medica. 



The black seed contains myrosyne with potash, fixed oil, pearly fatty 

 matter, gummy matter, sugar, coloring matter, free acid, a green mat- 

 ter, some salts, &c. The seeds afford a peculiar acid and volatile oil, 

 the latter being formed when water is added, as with some other fruits. 

 The fixed oil forms 28 per cent of the seed ; both are medicinally effi- 

 cacious. Mustard, as one of the volatile pungent stimuli, is between 

 horse-radish and pepper. Its acrid effects in topical applications de- 

 pend on the volatile oil. Cataplasms cause, if Ion? continued, ves- 

 ication and, sometimes, ulceralions and gansrene. When swallowed, 

 mustard causes the same effects on the stomach and bowels. In mod- 

 erate quantities, it promotes appetite, assists the assimilation of sub- 

 stances difficult of digestion. In larger doses, it arouses the gastric 

 susceptibility and becomes an emetic. Its general effects on the sys- 

 tem are those of a stimulant ; it quickens the pulse, promotes secre- 

 tions, (particularly urinary,) and exhalations. It is recommended as 

 a condiment to phlegmatic persons, and all with torpid digestive ac- 

 tion ; and generally with fatty or other food not easily digested. In 

 malignant cholera, narcotic poisoning and some forms of paralysis, it 

 is important as an emetic ; also as a moderate stimulant in dispepsia, 

 loss of appetite, &c. It is employed as a febrifuge in intermittents. 

 Its common use, however, is as an application to the feet, orrubifa- 

 cient. As an emetic, from a tea to a table spoonful is given in a tum- 

 blerful of water. In dropsy and some other diseases, mustard whey is 

 a good form of administration. This is made by boiling half an oz. 

 of bruised seed in a pint of milk and straining; given in small quan- 

 tities twice a day. The poultice, or cataplasma sinapsis of physicians, 

 is composed of mustard seed and linseed, with boiling vinegar, to form 

 a proper consistence. This is rendered more stimulating by adding 

 scrapings of horse-radish root. Crumbed bread is often substituted 

 for linseed meal. Vinegar checks the formation of the acrid oil, so 

 that a sinapsism without vinegar is as effectual in 6 minutes as one 

 with it in 50. Water over 100 P should not be used. In affections of 

 the brain, as in the stupor delirium of low fevers and many other cases. 

 it is valuable, applied to the feet; and also in pulmonary and cardiac 

 diseases, it is equally effective applied to the chest. Its effects are 

 quickened by the addition of the oil of turpentine. The operation 

 should be watched that sloughing does not ensue. The effects and 

 composition of white mustard are similar, but it is milder. The mus- 

 tard flour of the shops is adulterated with wheaten flour, colored by 

 tumeric and made hot by pod-pepper. 



The manufacture of mustard is performed by crushing the seed be- 

 tween rollers and then pounding it in mortars. The mass is then 



