166 NAT. ORDER. CAPPARIDEJE. 



Dr. Smith, of whose figure and description of the caper-bush we 

 have licrc availed ourselves, says, " it is surprising that this beau- 

 tiful shrub, which is as common in the South of France as the bram- 

 ble is with us, and which grows luxuriantly in the open air, when 

 trained against a wall, even at Paris, should be almost unknown in 

 the English and American gardens, where it can scarcely be made 

 to flower, except in the greenliouse, and even then with all possible 

 care." 



Medical Properties and Uses. The buds or unexpanded flowers 

 of this plant, have been used for a long time as a common pickle , 

 and for this purpose the smaller or younger buds arc preferred, 

 they being the most tender, and better calculated for such purposes. 

 This grateful pickle has the character of an antiscorbutic, and of 

 removing hepatic and other visceral obstructions ; but the part of 

 the plant which has been chiefly recommended for medicinal pur- 

 poses, is the bark of the root. This is of a considerable thickness, 

 externally of an ash color, and transversely wrinkled ; on drying, it 

 rolls up into quills of about one-third of an inch in diameter ; its 

 taste is somewhat aromatic, bitterish, and acrid. 



By Discorides, and other ancient writers, it was not thought of 

 great efficacy as a deobstruent, and was generally employed in ob- 

 structions of the liver and spleen, menstrual suppressions, and scia- 

 tica ; in this view it has been used by Forestus and Sennertus ; and 

 on the preservation of its deobstruent power, it was reckoned one 

 of the five less aperient roots ; at present, however, it is discarded 

 from practice, and is but little kno^Ti in medicine. We may further 

 remark, that this is the only plant in the natural order Avhich has 

 ever been considered medicinal. The dose of the bark prescribed 

 is from four to ten grains ; that of the decoction, from two drachms 

 to a fluid ounce. The decoction is made in proportions of one 

 ounce of the bark of the root to one pint diluted alcohol, well mac- 

 erated and filtered. 



