Sinapis Nigra

Sinapis Nigra.

Brassica nigra, Black Mustard. N. O. Cruciferae. Trituration and tincture of seeds.

Amenorrhoea. Apoplexy. Asthma, pituitous. Catarrh. Chlorosis. Chordee. Chorea. Constipation. Coryza. Cough. Diarrhoea. Haemorrhoids. Hay-fever. Headache, dull, heavy. Heartburn. Hiccough. Intermittents. Menses, premature. Mucous fever. Post-nasal catarrh. Priapism. Scurvy. Variola.

"Sin. nig. yields the greater part of the condiment so generally used in this country. The plant is indigenous, but is nevertheless largely cultivated in Yorkshire and Durham. The seeds are of a reddish-brown colour. Mixed with those of Sin. a. they are crushed between rollers, and subsequently powdered and sifted twice or oftener.

From the residue left on the sieve a fixed oil is obtained by pressure. The powdered mustard is usually mixed with a considerably quantity of wheaten flour and a small quantity of turmeric powder. The term I flour of mustard I is not quite accurate, as the mustard seeds themselves contain little or no starchy material. The chemical ingredients are somewat complex.

Among them are a peculiar acid called Myronic acid, noticeable as containing a large proportion of Sulphur, and which, when mixed with water and a peculiar substance called Myrosine (analogous to albumen), also found in mustard seeds, yields a volatile Oil of Mustard, which has no separate existence in the seeds, but is formed artificially in the manner just stated. This oil is very acrid, and has been used as a rubefacient. The fixed oil before mentioned as existing in the seed itself has little or no acridity, and has been used as a purgative and vermifuge" (Treas. of Bot.).

Thiosinamine, which is extracted from Oil of Mustard, belongs to the same group os Urea. It has been used in cheloid, and for removing scar tissue, and so in tinnitus aurium (Spencer, H. M., Jan., 1899). As the chemical constituents of the two mustards (see Sin. alb.) are not identical, and as they have been proved independently, I have kept them separate.

The yellow colour of mustard suggests Sulphur, a large amount of which is contained in the seeds. Like many other Crucifers Sin. n. has antiscorbutic properties; and it has cured cases of ague; mucous fever; catarrh of bladder, of stomach, and of air passages. It is in the treatment of hay-fever that it has been most used. The special indications are: Mucous membrane dry and hot; no discharge;

< afternoon and evening; either nostril may be affected alone, or they may be affected alternately. Hansen adds these: "Acute coryza with thin, watery, excoriating discharge, lachrymation, sneezing, hacking cough, > lying down. Acute pharyngitis, throat feels scalded, hot, inflamed. Loud coughing spells with barking expiration, heard at a great distance.

Cooper (H. W., xxxvi. 16) suggests the use of Sin. n. as an aperient. He considers that the chief agent in effecting dislodgement of faeces in constipated states is flatus. His method of producing this is as follows: A tumblerful of hot water is to be taken in sips in the early morning; the same at breakfast time with some plain brown bread or with no solid food at all, and at 11 a.m. one or two capsules of pure mustard (Sin n.), each containing about five grains of the powder, to be taken, followed by half a tumbler of hot water.

"This last is most important, as the water drives on the capsule and prevents its lodgement about the cardiac orifice of the stomach and consequent distress to the patient; and it also causes contraction of the walls of the stomach and consequent expulsion of flatus into the duodenum." Peculiar Sensations of Sin. n. are: Vertex as if empty. As if she had taken cold. As if scalp was adherent to bones. As of pins sticking in eyeballs.

Eyeballs as if pressed on from above. As if nostrils stopped up. As if movements impeded all round the chest. As if something heavy oppressed her on all sides from neck to diaphragm.

As if cheeks were bulged out by a bubble of air below malar bone. Skin of lips as if stiff. As if blisters on tip of tongue. As if a load on stomach.

Pain as if heart were on right side. As of hot water in blood-vessels.—"Sweat on upper lip and forehead" is a symptom worth noting; also these: mucus hawked or coughed from posterior nares felt cold. The symptoms are < by touch and pressure. > Lying down at night.

< Leaning forward; stooping motion <. Damp weather <. > Sitting erect. < In warm room.

< Thinking of symptoms; > by study or mental diversion. > Shutting eyes. > Hearty meal.

Laughing = cough. < Evening, 4-6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. < July and August.

Antidoted by: Smelling bread (immediate effects of taking excess of condiment). Nux, Rhus; when blistering has been produced by a mustard poultice, soap is the remedy. Compare: Sin. a., Thios., Armor. Scalded sensation on tongue, Sang. Cough < laughing, Arg. n., Pho. Cough > lying down, Fer., Mang. < From 4 to 6 p.m., Lyc. Amenorrhoea, Sul., Pul. As if hot water in blood-vessels (Rhus as if blood running cold).

Damp weather. Summer season.

Violent erections during day and night; obstinate, painful, and continued.—Awakening him at night; with lascivious thoughts; lascivious dreams and emissions at night.

Weariness in limbs with cramps in calves.

Occasional dull pain in left shoulder-joint.

It seemed to double him up; could hardly stand; tears ran from eyes; intense pain across epigastric region.—Rose late, feeling sore and stiff all over.—Weakness in all muscles.—Symptoms < 7 to 9 p.m.; > lying down at night, except dreams.