22 BRASSICA (SINAPIS) NIGEA 



It boils at about 298 Fahr., and has a specific gravity of 1'015 at 

 68 Fahr. It is readily soluble in alcohol and ether, but only 

 very slightly so in water. It contains sulphur as one of its 

 constituents, and is regarded by chemists as a sulphocyanide of 

 allyl. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Black mustard seed is a powerful 

 stimulant. It is rarely employed in a pure state, but usually in 

 the form of Flour of Mustard, which, as commonly prepared for 

 the table, is a mixture of both black and white mustard seeds. 

 This is also the composition of the official mustard of the British 

 Pharmacopoeia. Pure flour of black mustard may, however, 

 be obtained from the manufacturers. The properties and 

 uses of mustard are more fully described under the head of 

 Sinapis in Sinapis alba. Mustard paper (Charta Sinapis), has 

 been recently introduced into the appendix of the British 

 Pharmacopoeia and into the United States Pharmacopoeia. It is 

 prepared by coating the surface of cartridge-paper with a 

 mixture formed by adding Black Mustard seeds in powder to a 

 solution of gutta percha. It is an imitation of Kigollot's mustard 

 leaves which have been extensively used for some years as a 

 ready, simple, cleanly, and safe rubefacient. 



The oil of mustard when applied to the skin in its pure state 

 produces almost instant vesication ; but when dissolved in rectified 

 spirit, or spirit of camphor, or employed in the form of the Com- 

 pound Liniment of Mustard of the British Pharmacopoeia, it is a very 

 useful application for chilblains, chronic rheumatism, &c. When 

 this liniment is slightly sprinkled on impermeable piline, and 

 applied to the skin, it also forms an elegant substitute for a mustard 

 poultice. 



Per. Mat. Med., by B. & R., p. 935 and 1076; Pharmacographia, 

 p. 62 ; U. S. Disp., by W. & B., p. 809 ; Garr., Mat. Med., p. 208. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE. 



Chiefly drawn from a specimen collected at Warnham, Sussex. 1. Portion 

 of the flowering plant. 2. A diagram of the flower. 3. The androacium and 

 pistil. 4 and 5. Ripe fruit. 6. The same, with one valve removed. 7. A seed. 

 8. Section of the same. 9. The embryo. (5 9 enlarged.) 



