HORSE-RADISH. %9 



radisli seldom perfects its seeds. It is easily propagated by cutting's, 

 and thrives best in a rich deep soil. Moisture increases its bitter 

 and alkaline flavour. 



Qualities and General Uses. — Horse-radish is universally 

 known as a condiment to the roast-beef of Old England, and to 

 some kinds of fish, also as an ingredient in sauces. Beckmann men- 

 tions the plant as well adapted for the purpose of tanning or curry- 

 ing leather. It is refused by all kinds of cattle. 



The fresh root has a very pungent odour, soon causing tears, 

 and a hot biting acrid taste, combined with a slight degree of 

 sweetness.* By continued boiling, these qualities are entirely 

 dissipated ; and by drying, it loses more than half its weight, but 

 still retains much of its acrid pungency. This, however, at length 

 disappears, and it becomes sweetish, and finally bitter and insipid. 

 At should be kept for use in a cellar, where, covered with sand or 

 dry earth, it retains its virtues for a considerable time. Both water 

 and alcohol extract its active principles. " The infusion reddens 

 litmus paper, and precipitates solutions of acetate of lead and 

 nitrate of silver." Its acrimony depends upon a volatile oil, which 

 may be obtained by distillation with water ; it is of a pale yellow 

 colour, heavy, very acrid and pungent, and excites inflammation in 

 the parts to which it is applied. The root also affords, by analysis, 

 bitter resin, sugar, gum, starch, albumen, acetic acid, acetate and 

 sulphate of lime, water and woody fibre. Einhoff f detected 

 traces of sulphur in the distilled watery liquid. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — The Horse-radish root is sti- 

 mulating, antiscorbutic, diuretic, emetic, and expectorant ; it sen- 

 sibly promotes perspiration, urine, and the expectoration of viscid 

 phlegm, and excites appetite when the stomach is weakened or re- 

 laxed, without being liable to produce immoderate heat or inflam- 

 matory symptoms.]: 



Numerous experiments have put beyond all doubt the anti- 

 scorbutic virtues of this root.§ Ettmuller records several de- 

 plorable cases of scurvy and dyspepsia cured by an infusion in milk 

 or in wine ; one instance of a soldier, who with a scorbutic diathesis 



* According to Lewis it contains, in its proper vessels, a sweet juice 

 which sometimes exudes upon the surface, 

 f Annales de Chimie, lxx. 185. 

 X Lewis ; Mat. Med. p. 465. 

 § Barthol. Act. Med. Havn. vol. iv. p. 130. 



