198 
MUSTARD. 
hail this announcement with equal gratification to ourselves, 
seeing that it is an additional proof of our resolve to make 
the Veterinarian all it should be as the organ of the pro- 
fession. They will also infer from the circumstance that 
the loss which might otherwise have been felt with regard 
to an Analysis of the Foreign Journals , through the death 
of Mr. Ernes, will be provided for. 
Mr. Fleming’s acquaintance with foreign languages, his un- 
tiring zeal and love of research, eminently qualify him to fill 
this hiatus, as well as to undertake general editorial duties. 
His name appears this month for the first time in 
association with other highly valued colleagues on the 
wrapper of the J ournal. 
Extracts from British and Foreign Journals. 
MUSTARD. By M. Commaille. 
White mustard possesses medicinal properties which are 
very difficult to be explained. Our knowledge of its chemical 
composition, like that of many other organic substances, leaves 
much to be desired. Let us glance first at the actual state of 
science concerning this substance. 
White mustard, Sinajois alba, belongs to the important 
family of the Ci'ucifera, which furnishes products for use in 
medicine, food, and the arts. Like all its congeners, it con- 
tains sulphur among its constituent elements, which sulphur 
readily manifests its presence when putrefaction takes hold of 
a plant of this family. 
It is admitted that one part at least of the sulphur present 
in the crucifer, and consequently in white mustard, is in a 
form which gives easily hydrosulphocyanic acid, represented 
by the chemical formula H CyS or HC 2 NS 2 . 
This acid is rich in sulphur, containing 54 per cent, of its 
weight, and is very poisonous in its free state. It was disco- 
vered by Kinck in 1804. The same acid is met with nor- 
mally in human saliva. 
In white mustard the hydrosulphocyanic acid is combined 
with a particular base, sinapine, which has not yet been 
obtained in the dry state. When attempts are made to do 
so, it splits up into an acid, sinapic acid, C 22 H 12 O 10 , and a new 
