Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1915 — Ancients Knew About Mustard [ARTICLE]

Ancients Knew About Mustard

Mustard us one of the most ancient medicines. Pythagoras, who flourished between five and six hundred years before Christ, mentions it. Hippocrates, who was bom in 460 B. C., employed it. Pliny, the elder, writing In 77 A. D. t describes three different kinds of mustard and says the seeds were Imported to Italy from Egypt originally. The Romans used it as a stimulant after a cold bath; they mixed mustard oil and olive oil in equal parts and used this as a liniment for stiffness of the muscles. They knew the virtues of mustard poultices and of mustard as an emetic. As a remedy for the stings of scorpions and serpents they pounded it, mixed it with vinegar and applied It to the wound. They also made a drink out of it, fermenting the seed in a fiery spirit The liquor thus produced they called mustum ardens, which means burning wine. The word mustard Is probably derived from this.