COMMENTARY. We may pretty confidently refer it to the _Sinapi nigrum_. No author, ancient or modern, has treated of its medicinal powers so elaborately as Dioscorides. He says it has heating, attenuant, and attractive powers, and when chewed, produces a discharge of phlegm; when its juice is mixed with hydromel, it forms a suitable gargle for enlarged tonsils, and for chronic and callous asperities of the trachea; when applied to the nostrils in a fine powder it acts as a sternutatory; benefits persons in epileptic fits, and rouses those who are in hysterical fits; it is useful in lethargic patients when applied as a cataplasm to the shaved scalp; when mixed up with figs and applied until it reddens, it is fitting for ischiatic disease, and that of the spleen, and in general for all chronic pains, by determining to the surface; it cures alopecia in a cataplasm; clears the countenance, and, with honey, suet, or cerate, removes the spots of extravasated blood; with vinegar it is rubbed in upon places affected with leprosy, and lichen agrius; it is taken in a draught as a powder, when sprinkled like polenta on the drink, for periodical attacks of fevers; it is mixed with advantage in epispastic plasters and those for scabies; when applied to the ear in powder with figs, it relieves deafness and noises in the ears; its juice with honey is suitable in dimness of vision and roughness of the eyelids when rubbed in; the juice of its seed, while still green, is expressed and dried in the sun. (ii, 183.) Celsus recommends it in a variety of cases both externally and internally; as a rubefacient, gargle, masticatory, &c. By the way, we have never been able to satisfy ourselves that the late Dr. Milligan was right in setting down the sinapi of Celsus as the _Sinapis alba_. (207.) We remark, however, that it is this species which occurs in the modern Greek Pharmacopœia. Galen and his followers dismiss this article with a very brief notice, like our author. The Arabians do little more than copy from Dioscorides. See particularly Avicenna (ii, 2, 674); Rhases (Cont. l. ult. 644); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42); Serapion (c. 373); Ebn Baithar (i, 355.) Mustard was much used by the ancient physicians in cataplasms as a rubefacient. Ruffus, as quoted by Rhases (Contin. xxxvii), recommends the seed of mustard as a laxative. Macer directs, upon the authority of Menemachus, a sinapism to be formed by pounding in a mortar mustard seed, with a third part of the crumb of bread, dried figs, honey, and vinegar. He recommends an ointment made of figs and mustard, for alopecia, i. e. _porrigo decalvans_. Ναρδόσταχυς, Spica Nardi, _Spikenard_; the root of it is heating in the first degree, and desiccative in the second. It is also somewhat astringent, acrid, and bitterish. It agrees with the liver and stomach both when administered externally and internally. It is diuretic, and dries up internal defluxions. The Indian is stronger than the Syrian, and blacker.