372 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



Dr. Baker recommends to physicians the 

 trial of the meadow-cress as an antispasmo- 

 dic remedy.* 



This meadow-plant should be noticed in 

 natural history, for the power it has of pro- 

 pagating its species at a considerable distance 

 from the mother plant. The seeds are con- 

 tained in a long, compressed, cylindrical pod, 

 with two cells opening in two valves which 

 twist spirally, and cast out the seeds when 

 ripe by their elasticity. 



The Dutch eat great quantities of cress in 

 the spring as an antiscorbutic. As the Eng- 

 lish eat more animal food than any other 

 nation, it is peculiarly requisite that they 

 should take a proper mixture of vegetables, 

 to counteract its ill effects, and prevent their 

 blood from being tainted with scurvy, and its 

 afflicting train of consequences, as indiges- 

 tion, low spirits, hypochondria, &c. Water- 

 cresses are mentioned by our oldest herba- 

 lists as a salad 



" Ere verdant food adorn'd the garden beds." » 



Gerard says, the eating of water-cresses 

 restores the wonted bloom to the cheeks of 

 young ladies. 



* Medical Transactions, vol. i. pae^e 442. 



