CARAWAY SEEDS. 139 
and are then spread as a paste on rusks, or toast. Our 
sauces, as that of Capers, were first used in the place of salt, 
—in Italian salza,—which the French transformed into saulza, 
and which ultimately became sauce. 
CAPSICUM. 
(CaYENNE, See PEPPER.) 
CARAWAY SEEDS. 
Tue well-known aromatic Caraway Seeds of our household 
cakes, and of the confectioner’s sugared comfits, depend for their 
cordial and comforting properties, (especially when bruised) on 
an essential oil which is fragrant, carminative, and spicy. Though 
originally the herb (Caruwm carui) inhabited Caria, a province of 
Asia Minor, it is now cultivated for commerce in England, par-. 
ticularly about Kent and Essex. What are known as Caraway 
Seeds are in reality the small dried fruit taken from the umbels.. 
When rubbed in a mortar they give off an agreeable, strong- 
smelling sort of scent. Chemically, their volatile oil consists of 
* carvol,” and a hydro-carbon, “ carvene,”’ which is a “‘ camphor.” 
In Germany the peasants flavour their cheese, soups, and house- 
hold bread with Caraway Seeds. Also in Germany, as well as in 
Russia, a favourite liqueur, Kummel, is prepared from the 
Caraway, whilst the seeds are given for hysterical affections, 
being finely powdered, and mixed with ginger and salt for being 
spread with butter on bread. The “ powdered seed put into a 
poultice taketh away blacke and blew spots of blows, and bruises.” 
The oil, or seeds of Caraway do sharpen vision, and promote 
the secretion of breast-milk. Therefore dim-sighted men, and 
nursing mothers, may rejoice in eating seed-cake. This was 
formerly a standing institution at the feasts given by farmers 
to their labourers at the end of wheat sowing. Roasted apples 
are served at table in Trinity College, Cambridge, together with 
a small saucerful of Caraway seed. 
For the flatulent gripings of infants a good Caraway julep may 
be made by infusing half an ounce of the bruised seeds for six 
hours in half a pint of cold water, covered over ; then pour off 
the liquor, strained through muslin, and sweeten it to taste ; 
from one to three teaspoonfuls may be given to a baby for a dose. 
As a draught for flatulent colic in the adult, twenty grains of the 
