1266

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Botany. Gen. Char. —See Cochlearia Armoracia. Jicel s -

Sp. Char. — Silicules ovate-globose, twice as short as their p cRadical leaves stalked, cordate; cauline ones ovate dentate-an D(D. C.) — Annual. Stem about a foot high. Flowers pure white- t ] lC

Hab. —Indigenous; on the sea-coast, and in watery places ■ j n

Welsh and Scottish mountains. Cultivated in gardens.—-Flo"

April and May. ral) bed»

Description. —Scurvy-grass ( herba cochlearia) evolves, whena somewhat pungent odour. Its taste is penetrating and acrid. n0 tComposition. —The inspissated juice was examined by jy

{Journ. Phys. lxxxiv. 278), and the fresh herb by Gutret (Gmelin,d. Chem. ii. 1248). The latter obtained the following constitue"volatile oil, bitter resin, bitter extractive, gum, green fecula, n e 9 ^ ofalbumen, hydrochlorate and sulphate of ammonia, nitrate and suiplime.

vol» tlle ’

Volatile Oil (Oleum Cochlearia:). —This is yellow, heavier than water, veryand soluble in alcohol. Its odour is strong, and its taste acrid. ,

• t afl"

Physiological Effects and Uses. — A gentle stimulant, apenendiuretic. It has long been esteemed as an antiscorbutic (see ValeCochlearia curiosa, by Shirley. 1676). It has also been used in t ],cobstructions. It is occasionally eaten with bread and butter, 1water-cress.

Fig. 238.

Sina'pis nigra, Linn. L. E. D. — Common or Black Mustard■

Sex* Syst. Tetradynamia, Siliquosa. f fixed

(Semina, L ,—Flour of the seeds, generally mixed with those of Sinapis alba, and depri' 6 ^oil by expression, E .—Seminum pulvis, D.)

History. —Mustard (vauv) was employed in medicine by HipP°^. c d.Botany. Gen. Char — Silique somewhat terete ; the valves 11 g g iyXStyle small, short, acute. Seeds in one row, somewhat globose-spreading (D. C.) _ d c los e

Sp. Char. — Siliques smooth, even, somewhat tetragonal, press ^ c rto the peduncle. Lower leaves lyrateones lanceolate, quite entire, stalked.-" _Stem three or four feet high. Flowers y c j aC cS-Hab. —Indigenous ; hedges and waste pCultivated in fields, especially in DurhaiYorkshire. ( s e

Description. —Black mustard seedssinapis nigra ) are small and roundish- ijjgh'nally they are beautifully veined, and of a r oed |j)eSor blackish-brown colour, though s< r ) ’ e y al ewhitish. Internally they are yellow'- a£ rin ollS

inodorous, but have an acrid, bitter, otaste. c

Manufacture of Mustard . —-The 0method of preparing four of mustar ^ j a rfvjsinapis) was kindly furnished me by . a jiJmanufacturer:—The seeds of both r0 ller s '‘

white mustard are first crushed between

a. Sinapis alba.

b. Sinapis nigra.