BRASSICACEjE. 133 



Iaxation or a deficiency of secretion ; a teaspoonful is to be taken at a time 

 and swallowed very leisurely, repeating the dose from time to time. Dr. 

 Withering also says that an infusion of this root in milk forms an excellent 

 and safe cosmetic. Horse Radish has likewise been used as an external irritant, 

 for which purpose it should be grated fine and mixed with vinegar ; it acts 

 promptly and energetically on the skin, and is a far neater application than 

 a sinapism and in most cases quite as effectual. The dose of the root is one 

 or two drachms cut into small pieces or grated. 



Another species of this genus, C. officinalis, or Scurvy grass, is admitted 

 into many Pharmacopoeias, but is more generally used as a salad, than as a 

 remedial agent. It possesses the sensible qualities of the order in a marked 

 degree, and hence has been found very useful in scurvy, as its common name 

 indicates. It has also been recommended in various other diseases, but is 

 now deservedly abandoned and forgotten, except as a culinary vegetable. 



Sinapis. — Linn. 



Silique somewhat terete, valves ribbed. Styles short, acute. Seeds in a single row, 

 subglobose. Calyx spreading. 



The genus Sinapis is composed of numerous species of herbaceous plants, 

 with yellow flowers, and lyrate, incised or pinnatifid leaves. They are almost 

 all annual or biennial, and are found in all parts of the world. Two of them 

 are recognised as officinal in most Pharmacopoeias. The general name is 

 that by which it is spoken of by Pliny and others ; it was also noticed by 

 Theophrastus and Dioscorides, and its properties fully known to them. De 

 Theis is of opinion that the Romans derived their name for it from the Celtic, 

 as Nap in that language is used for most of the cruciferous plants. The 

 common name is supposed to be derived from mustum ardens, hot must, as 

 the must of wine was formerly employed to prepare it for use. 



1. S. nigra, Linn. — Siliques somewhat quadrangular, smooth, appressed to the stem; 

 lower leaves lyrate, upper leaves linear, lanceolate, entire. 



Linn. Sp. PI. 933 ; Torrey and Gray, Fl. i. 99 ; Stokes, Med. Bot. iii. 

 475; Woodville, Med. Bot. t. 151 ; Stephenson and Churchill, Med. Bot. i. 

 42 ; Lindley, Med. Flor. 92. 



Common Names. — Black Mustard ; Mustard. 



Foreign Names. — Moutarde, Fr.; Schwartzer Senfe, Gr.; Senape, It. 



The Black Mustard is a native of the temperate regions of Europe, and 

 is a troublesome weed in the grain fields ; it has become naturalized in many 

 parts of the United States, but is not very common in a wild state ; it is, 

 however, grown to some extent in many parts of the country, both for do- 

 mestic use and as an article of commerce. The only parts used are the 

 seeds ; these are small and round, of a dark colour externally and yellowish 

 within. They have little or no smell when entire, but when bruised exhale 

 a peculiar odour, which becomes pungent on the addition of water or 

 vinegar. The principal use of the Black Mustard seed is as a condiment, for 

 which purpose it is prepared in several modes. In England, and most gene- 

 rally in this country, after being ground, the bran or husk is separated from 

 the flour, which is then of a dark lemon colour. In France, the ground seed 

 is used without sifting ; this affords a brownish-yellow flour, which, although 

 not as sightly, is far more powerful than when it is prepared in the English 

 method. No article in common use is more often adulterated than flour of 

 mustard ; in some cases, what is sold as such, does not contain a particle of 

 it, being composed of wheat flour, coloured with turmeric and rendered pun- 



