Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/233

MUSTARD. 19" MUT. MUSTARD (OF. moit/ilarde, Fr. moutardc, frciiii OF. iiKiKsl, Iroin Lilt, xiustum, must, neu. of muslKS, fresh), lirussica. A goinis of pliints of the natural onltT Crucifcrse, having yellow flowejs, and linear or oblong pod.s, which ter- minate in a svord-sha]ie(l, compressed, or four- cornered beak, and contain one row of seeds. The black mustard {Brassica nigra) is an annual, which grows wild in fields and by waysides in the middle and south of Europe. Its pods are bluntly four-angled, smooth, erect, and lie close to the .stem, their valves one-nerved; the leaves are smooth, the lower ones lyrate, the upper linear-lanceolate; the seeds are broAvnish black. White mustard (Brassica alba), also a native of most parts of Europe, is an annual having divergent pods covered with stiff hairs, the valves five-neiTe(l, the seeds yellowish, the leaves pinna- tifid. Both these species are cultivated in Europe and to a limited extent in America, for their seeds, which are ground into powder to make the well- known condiment called nuistard. The mustard of commerce is freiiuently mixed with flour and commonl.v colored with turmeric. The powder of the seeds is also much used in medicine as a rubefacient. Mustard seeds depend for their pungency on a principle which, when water is added to black mustard, forms volatile oil of nuistard. There is also in the seeds a bland fixed oil, oil of mustard, which is obtained from them by expression, and constitutes about 28 per cent, of their weight. White mustard is often sown in gardens and forced in hot-houses for use as a salad. It is also sometimes sown as a green niaiuire crop and for feeding sheep, when turnip or rape has failed. Wild mustard, or charlock {BraKsica arrciisis, or Sinapistnim of some botanists), which is distinguished b_v turgid and knotty pods with many angles and longer than the two-edged beak, is a troublesome annual weed in both Europe and America. It is controlled by spraying with a 2 per cent, solution of copper sul- phate or 12 to 15 per cent, iron sulphate at the rate of 50 to 70 gallons per acre. (See Herbi- cide.) Indian mustard (Brnsnica. ramosa) is extensively cultivated in India for its seeds, which are used as a condiment, as are those of Brassica dicltoioma and Brassica: gJauca (re- garded by some botanists as forms of Brassica arvensis) , also cultivated in India. Other species are Brassica japoitira. used to a considerable ex- tent in the United States for greens; a turnip- rooted Chinese form (Brassica napiformis) . and riiiiic^e mustard (/?m.«.5i>fi juncea). See illus- tration of C'ABB,GE .iXD Allies. MUSTARD FAMILY. A natural order of plants. See rRiciFER.E. MUSTARD OIL, or Oil of JIustard. chemi- cally known as alli/l isd-sitlphoci/aiiatc, C'.;H-N('S. A volatile oil obtained from black mustard, the seeds of the Brassica nigra, growing in Asia and in Southern Europe. The seeds con- tain a bland fixed oil which may be removed by expression, but they do not contain the volatile oil ready-formed. The latter is produced by the action of a soluble ferment (myrosin) upon the potassium salt of myronie acid (a glucoside), in the presence of water. Tiotli myrosin and potas- sium myronate are contained in bliick mustard seeds. If, therefore, after the fixed oil has been removed, the crushed seeds are treated with water and distilled, the volatile oil is obtained, in much the same way as the volatile oil of almonds is obtained from bitter almonds. (See Almond.s, VoL.vriLE Oil of.) Mustard oil is a very volatile colorless liquid, having a painfully pungent odor and an acrid taste; when ai)plicd to the skin it speedily raises blisters; it is in- soluble in water, and. if pure, boils at 151° C. Its formation from potassium myronate takes place according to the following chemical equation : KC,„H,sNS,0,„ = CHjNCS + C„H,,0, + IvHSO. Potaspiura Mustard Gluco.se Acid niyronat« oil potassium sulphate The pungency of ordinary mustard as a condi- ment is due to the formation of the volatile oil on addition of water. The allyl iso-sulphoeyan- ate prepared by an artificial ])rocess in the chem- ical laboratory, is identical with the volatile oil obtained from mustard seeds. The term iiiiislard oils is often applied to organic iso-sulpliocyanates in general. MUSTEL'ID.a; (Xeo-Lat. nom. pi., from Lat. iniislclo, Aveasel, from miis, mouse). The family of small carnivores, represented by the weasel, and embracing the more highly valued fur-bearing animals. They are related to the arctoid Carniv- ora, especially the bears, and the family includes three groups, as follows: (1) Melinje (the Old World badgers) ; (2) Mustelin;B (grison, marten, sable, wolverine, polecat, weasels, ratel, American badger, and skunks ) ; ( 3 ) Lutrimne. ( otters ) . Con- sult authorities cited under IIammalia, espe- cially Beddard. See Fur-Bearinq Animals. MUSTER (from OF. mostre, monstre, Fr. montrc, show, from Lat. monstrare, to show, from monstrnin, portent, monster, from monere, to warn). When used in its military sense, this term applies particularly to the as.sembling of troops for the verification of membership. In the United States the troops are mustered for pay on the last day of each month, each stated muster being preceded by a minute inspection. In the British Army there is a special muster parade once each year, when every individual of each command must respond in person to the regimental muster roll. In the navy the crews are frequently assembled or mustered for the purpose of ascertaining if all are on board or for drill or instruction or reading general oi'ders. Once a month (on the first Sunday occurring in the month) the officers and crew of the vessels of the United States Navy are called to 'general muster.' The presence of the officers is ascer- tained by inspection: but the names of the crew are called by the paymaster or his clerk, and each man in turn, except petty officers, as his name is reached, passes across the deck, before the cap- tain. It was formerly the custom to muster the crew aft and read the Articles for the Better (lorcrnmrnt of the A"ai.'//, and then call the mus- ter roll of the erew. The two performances now take place on difl'erent Sundays. MUT, moot. An Egyptian goddess, the wife of Amnion (q.v.) of Thebes, and the mother of Chons (q.v.). Her name signifies 'mother,' and in the inscriptions she is entitled 'the lady of heaven, the queen of (he earth.' The chief temple of the go<ldess was at Karnak : it was connected with the great Temple of Anuuon by a long avenue of sphinxes, and was partly surrounded by the sacred lake Asher. From the latter circumstance lIut is often called 'the lady of Asher.' She is frequently represented as a lion-headed goddess wearing upon her head the solar disk, but in