COCHLEARIA ARMORACIA. 
229 
numerous, and terminate the branches in thick clusters ; the calyx 
is composed of four leaves which are egg-shaped, concave, opening, 
and deciduous ; the corolla consists of four inversely egg-shaped 
petals, which expand in opposite directions aud form a cross ; they 
are twice the size of the calyx, and are inserted by narrow claws ; 
the filaments are six, tapering, the two opposite ones shorter than 
the other four, and all furnished with blunt compressed anthers ; 
the gerraen is heart-shaped, supporting a simple style, which is short, 
permanent, and furnished with an obtuse stigma; the capsule is 
heart-shaped, turgid, slightly notched at the end, and furnished with 
the style ; it is divided into two cells, each containing about fouT 
seeds. 
This plant is frequently found growing wild in many parts of 
England, particularly about river sides and other moist places. It 
flowers in May and June, but rarely perfects its seeds in this 
country, which would lead us to think that it is not indigenous. 
For medicinal and culinary purposes it is cultivated in our gardefis. 
Sensible Properties. The root of this plant affects the 
organs both of taste and smell with a quick, penetrating pungency ; 
nevertheless it contains in certain vessels, a sweet juice which some- 
times exudes in little drops upon the surface. Its pungent matter is 
of a very volatile nature, being totally dissipated in drying, and 
carried olF in evaporation, or distillation by water or rectified spirit. 
As the pungency exhales, the sweet matter of the root becomes more 
sensible, though this also is in a great measure dissipated or de- 
stroyed : if kept in a cool place covered with sand, it retains its 
pungency for a considerable time. By infusion or distillation, it 
impregnates both water and spirit very strongly with its activfe 
matter ; in distillation with water, it yields a small quantity of an 
exceedingly penetrating and pungent essential oil. 
Medical Properties, The root of this plant is an extremely ^ 
powerful stimulant, whether it be applied externally, or taken in-" ' 
ternally ; taken into the stomach it stimulates and promotes digestion, 
and hence its use as a condiment ; it likewise proves stimulant to 
the nervous system, and is therefore useful in palsy; if taken in a 
large quantity it heats the whole body, and hence it is often useful 
in chronic rheumatism, Bergius exhibited it by cutting it in small 
pieces, without bruising, and ordered it to be swallowed, without 
chewing, to the quantity of a table-spoonful. It has frequently 
been of service in some kinds of scurvy and other chronic disorders, 
supposed to proceed from a vicidity of the juifeeS, or obslructions 
of the excretory ducts. The active mattejft)f'hbrse radish eatried 
