Of mustard I shall treat at large with the rubefacients. I have already considered it as emetic and laxative. (See pages 475 and 499.) its general effects on the system are closely analogous to those of horseradish; being stimulating to the stomach, circulation, and emunctories, especially the kidneys, and consequently acting occasionally as a diuretic. in this capacity, it is also used under the same circumstances; and, indeed, is generally given in dropsy, associated with that medicine, in compound infusion. (See infusion of Horse-radish, above.)

A convenient form for the administration of mustard as a stimulating diuretic is that of mustard-whey, made by boiling an ounce of the bruised seeds or powder in a pint of milk, and straining. The dose is a wineglassful, several times a day.

A compound infusion has been considerably used in dropsy with an enfeebled state of the system, prepared by macerating in four pints of hard cider, an ounce, each, of juniper berries, mustard seeds, and ginger root, all well bruised, and two ounces, each, of parsley root and horseradish, also bruised. The dose is a wineglassful, four times a day, gradually increased if required.