30 HORSE-RADISH. 



laboured under dropsy and oedematous swelling 1 of the legs. In 

 dropsy it is a valuable diuretic ; * and has even been considered 

 a powerful remedy in gravel, and in cases of urinary calculi. f 

 Horse-radish may be advantageously administered in palsy and in 

 chronic rheumatism, whether arising from scurvy or other causes. 

 BergiusJ prescribes it to be swallowed in small pieces ; in which 

 form, by stimulating the coats of the stomach, as unbruiscd mus- 

 tard seed, it affords much relief to gouty and rheumatic persons. 

 In affections of the stomach, especially of the scorbutic kind, Ett- 

 muller§ extols very highly an infusion of Horseradish with the 

 root of elecampane. This acts strongly by urine, and in dyspeptic 

 and scorbutic cases may be considered a specific. If the root be 

 infused in water, and a portion of this infusion be taken with a 

 large draught of warm water, it readily proves emetic, || and may 

 either be employed by itself to excite vomiting or to assist the 

 operation of others.^! Respecting its expectorating qualities but 

 little can be said;, still, on the authority of Lind,** in the form 

 of syrup, it is called "a divine medicine" in asthma connected 

 with scurvy. 



Externally it readily inflames the skin, and proves a rubefacient 

 that may be employed with advantage in palsy and rheumatism ; 

 and if its application be long continued, it produces blisters. 



When taken internally, the dose must be from twenty to sixty 

 grains in substance, or from twenty to forty drops of the juice. 



SYRUP OF HORSE-RADISH. ft 



Take of Fresh Horse-radish roots, rasped. . . .one drachm ; 



Boiling water four ounces. 



Infuse in a close vessel for two hours, and make the strained liquid into 

 a syrup with double its weight of sugar. 



* Heist. Comp. Med. Pract. p. 212. Vel. Acad. Handl. 1766, p. 231. 



f Lobb, de Dissolv. Calculos, p. 89, exper. 96, 97.— Hales ; Statistical 

 Essays, vol. ii. p. 215. 



X Bergius ; Mat. Med. p. 559. 



§ Ettmullcr ; Oper. Med. p. 640. 



|| The expressed juice, even in a small quantity, produces vomiting, 

 and that very roughly.— Waller's Brit. Herb. p. 204. 



^ Cullen's Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 167. 



•• Lind. Treat, on Scurvy, p. 26"). 



ft Cullen's Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 169. 



