166 
NAT. ORDER. CAPPARIDE^. 
Dr. Smith, of whose figure and description of the caper-bush we 
have here 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 greenhouse, 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 are 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 known in medicine. We may further 
remark, that this is the only plant in the natural order which 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. 
