THE HYSSOP OF THE ANCIENTS. 255 
5th. It is said by Pliny to have been used in his day as a cure for a skin disease 
allied to leprosy. 
And 6th. It is at present universally esteemed in the East, and holds a place in 
some of the Continental Pharmacopoeias. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE WOOD-CUT. 
a Gymnostomum truncatulum, supposed Solomon's c PTyssopus Orientalis. Eastern H\ssnp. 
Hyssop. d Artemesia Judaica. The Judge an Wormwood. 
b Trichostomum aciculare. e CapparisiEgyptiaca,or, True Hyssop of the Ancients. 
Such a train of striking coincidences, if not altogether conclusive, go very far to 
prove that this is the true Hyssop, or Ezob, of the ancients. 
A difficulty, however, presents itself, as to the identical species of Caper plant, 
known in Arabia by the name of Aszef ; four, if not five, different kinds all grow wild 
in those localities. The Sodaba Caper (C. Sodaba) is a deciduous plant, with small 
red fruit, and pale rose-coloured flowers ; both the buds and unripe fruit are used, and 
esteemed as medicinal. The Various-leaved Caper (Capparis heteracantha) and White- 
leaved Caper (C. leucophylla) both bear white flowers, and attain the height of four feet. 
The Common Caper (C. spinosa) is a native of the South of Europe and some parts 
of Asia, and perhaps in the Desert and in Egypt ; but of this we are not certain. 
It is common in the Mediterranean, and most parts contiguous ; but there appears to 
be an objection to this being the identical species discovered by Burckhardt and 
others, as it is mentioned distinctly by ancient writers under the name of KainrapLs, 
whereas the Hyssop is called by Dioscorides, ikto-cottos, Hyssopos, and by Pliny 
Hyssopus, evidently pointing to two different plants. 
The kind which appears to agree in every respect with the description is the 
Egyptian Caper (C. JEgyptiaca), and all things taken together, we cannot but believe 
this plant to be the true Ezob of the ancients. 
