418 . ^ PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. j^ANNOlOgQ. 



of no great reputation in physic, yet for some ages past they have been greatly 

 esteemed in the kitchen. 



Others of this family that are more peculiarly eminent for the virtues con- 

 tained in their seed are the common mustard and rape, the thiaspi Dioscoridis 

 or treacle mustard, the eruca or rocket, and sophia chirurgorum, or flixweed, 

 the seed of which last I am informed, by a very worthy member of this society, 

 has for some years past been used by several people in the north of England 

 for the stone and gravel with very good success. 



The roots which have gained considerable repute, as well in diet as physic, 

 are the radishes, both garden and Spanish, which is the large black rooted : 

 as also the wild or horse radish ; and to these the round and long rooted 

 turnip must be added. 



Most of this tribe I find, though they are hot, like the last two, viz. the 

 umbelliferae and verticillatae, yet they exert their virtues in a very different 

 manner, viz. by a diuretic volatile salt, and are found most prevalent and 

 effectual in chronic diseases, as the scurvy, dropsy, gout, jaundice, and other 

 ill habits of the body, "where the blood is vitiated rather in its particles than in 

 its motion ; carrying ofl' its impurity by a diuretic dyscrasis, or discharge of 

 their offending heterogeneous salts ; and consequently by purification disposing 

 of it to a better, or more sanative temperament. Several of these herbs, as 

 water-cresses, garden and sea scurvy-grass, with mustard-seed, and garden and 

 horse-radish, which are all of this family, are by most if not all physicians, 

 as well ancient as modern, allowed to be extraordinary diuretics and anti- 

 scorbutics. 



A Catalogue of Shells, &c. collected at the Island of Ascension, by Mr. James 

 Cuninghame, Surgeon, with what Plants he observed there ; communicated to 

 Mr. James Petiver, F. R. S. N° 255, p. 2Q5. 



I shall arrange the following shells, according to the method of Dr. Martyn 

 Lister, in his Historia sive Methodus Conchyliorunij and shall therefore 

 begin with, 



1. Buccinum parvum breve asperum. — 2. Pecten ex rubro alboque fasciatus, 

 nodis inflatis striatus ; an P. ruber striis circiter 10 nodosis, sive bullatis et 

 inequalibus donatus, List. Hist. Conch. 1. 3, fig. 24 ? — 3. Ostrea ru[)estris sul- 

 cata, capite cavo. — 4. Spondylus (ere ruber muricatus List. H. C. 1. 3, fig. 40. 

 — 5. Pcctunculus albus, parvus, striatus et fasciatus. — 6. Pcctunculus albus 

 compressus, rugis fasciatus ; an P. orbicularis planior rugosus. List. H. C. 1. 3, 

 fig- 119 ^ — 7- Pcctunculus triquetrus albus, striatus, undis rufesccntibus. — 

 8. Musculus arcuatus major, sulcis profundiorib. striatus ; an M. angustior 



