468 Mr. Cutler's Account of indigenous Vegetables, 



WATERCRESS. Blossoms white. In springs and running 

 brooks of water. May. 



It is an early and wholesome spring sallad, and is used as a 

 pot-herb. Dr. Withering says, it is an excellent antiscorbutic 

 and stomachic, with less acrimony than the scurvygrass. It is 

 an ingredient in the antiscorbutic juices. 



SINAPIS. Linn. Gen. Plant. 



Sinapis siliquis glabris teiragonis. Syst. Nat. 



BLACK MUSTARD. Blossoms pale yellow. Common about 

 barns. June. 



The imported mustard, so common at tables, and which is 

 generally preferred to our own, is the pulverized seed of this 

 species ; — the difference consists only in the preparation of the 

 powder. The seeds unbruised are frequently given in palsies 

 and chronic rheumatisms, and are found beneficial. They may 

 be taken in the quantity of a table-spoon full, or more, and will 

 gently relax the bowels. Rheumatic pains in the stomach are 

 often relieved by taking them in brandy. The powdered seeds, 

 with crumbs of bread and vinegar, are made into cataplasms, and 

 applied to the soles of the feet in fevers, when stimulants are 

 necessary. They are also topically applied in fixed rheumatic 

 and sciatic pains. Dr. Withering says, wherever we want a 

 strong stimulus, that acts upon the nervous system without ex- 

 citing much heat, we know none preferable to the mustard seed. 

 An infusion of the seed, given in large quantities, vomits ; but 

 in smaller doses, operates as an aperient and diuretic. Mustard 

 whey, with wine, is used as a drink in fevers. Its acrimony is 

 said to consist in an essential oil. 



RAPHANUS. Linn. Gen. Plant. 736. 

 Raphanus siliquis teretibus articulatis Icevibus unilocular- 

 ibus. Syst. Nat. CHARLOCK. 



