200 
MUSTARD. 
duced except under the influence of organized living bodies. 
Now, myrosine, the presumed ferment of mustard, does not 
fulfil this condition. However that may be, myrosine is met 
with in white mustard, but myronic acid is not, hence 
the absolute impossibility of its furnishing essence of mus- 
tard. This principle is the sulphocyanate of sinapine before 
spoken of. 
Sinapisine, discovered by MM. Henry and Garot, is 
sulphurized, crystallisable and soluble in alcohol. It is 
crystalloid, like myronic acid ; whilst myrozine, which does 
not crystallise, and is coagulated by alcohol, warmth or 
acids, like other substances that approximate to albumen, is a 
colloid. 
To finish this brief history of the chemistry of mustard, it 
ma}' be added that the white contains much mucilage, and that 
its ash contains 10 per cent, of sulphate of potash, arising 
from the destruction of the sinapisine. 
if. now, we take advantage of the knowledge previously 
acquired, we shall be enabled, perhaps, to raise a corner of the 
veil which has hitherto hidden the mysterious therapeutic 
virtues of white mustard. 
The purgative properties of this seed have been explained 
as a mechanical action of carrying through and expulsion — 
sweeping of the intestine. The purifying properties have been 
attributed to the presence of sulphur and to a specific action 
which, considering the integrity of the mustard in the fecal 
matter, is not very clear. 
If we examine a mustard seed by the eye or under a micro- 
scope, we see that it is nearly round, scarcely wrinkled at the 
surface, neither very large nor very small. Left in cold 
water, it soon becomes ropy and very mucilaginous, ac- 
quiring a perceptible, but not disagreeable, flavour. The 
action of warm water produces this result much more 
rapidly. The seeds then roll one upon another with the 
greatest facility. 
It is to these peculiarities that it appears in part to owe its 
purgative property. Seeds of larger size, the surface of which 
could not be acted upon by the liquids of the stomach and 
intestines, might, without doubt, purge more or less, but 
would greatly fatigue the organs, which could not support a 
large quantity of them ; besides, the total surface being much 
less, the mucilaginous principle would be dissolved in smaller 
quantity. 
Very small seeds, like the poppy, for instance, would 
be often arrested in the long course that they have to run ; 
soon the whole intestinal passage would be covered, and 
