uiNJi HOItTUS JAMAICENSIS. 5.'.'/ 



7. CoEAt Peppers. These are called so from their long, slender, singularly twisted, 

 shape aaJ shining red colour, reseaibling corals. 



8. Rams-horn Pi-PPEKS. These are tormed like the coral pepper, but are much 

 longer and more spiral, and somewhat flatted. 



t. Olive Peppers. ^The fruit is of a iDcauiiful j'ellow colour, and in shape like an 

 -olive, of which there is a pend\dous and an upright variety. 



10. Forked, or double pointed pep))ers. 



11. Nipple Peppers The leaves of this como o^it in opposite tt-.fts, and the fruit 

 'is shaped like a cone or nipple, broad at bottom, and narrowing to a point. 



Tlie above are the princip?<! varieties to be foun<] in .laniaica, but nature has sportetl 

 so much in the form of the fruit, that it is almost endless to trace the difierent shapes 

 and figures they put on. 



Capsicum has all the virtues of the oriental spices, r/ithout prodneing- those com- 

 plaints of the head which they often occasion. In f<jod\it jirevents ikitulcncy i'rom ve- 

 L,etab!es, but the abuse occasions visceral obstructions, especially of the liver, la 

 dropsical coniplaints, or others where chalybeatcs are indicated, a minute portion of 

 , powdered capsicum is an e:':cellent addition. lu lethargic affections this warm anJ 

 active stimulant might be of service. In tropical fevers acoma and delirium are com- 

 -nion attendants, and in such cases cataplasms of capsicum have a speedy and hapjjy 

 -effect; they redden the parts, but seldom blister unless kept on too long. "In ojuiial- 

 .miasj from relaxation of tiie membranes and coats of the eyes, the diluted juice of the 

 capsicum is a sovereign remedy ; and I have often witnessed its virtues in many obsti- 

 nate cases of this sort. In some parts f Sioutli America the Indians prick the loins and 

 bellies of liectic jiatients with thorns dipped in the juice of capsicum. 



Of late capsicum has been snccessfullv used in pauicular cases of the yellow fever. 

 i'lt settles the stomach, abates bilious vomitings, and even miliMna, the morbus niger of 

 '^Hippocrates, or black vomit, has becH cured by it. The form it is given is eitlier from 

 the green pepper, or of the genuine powder capsicum. Three parts of tlie bottoni 

 part of ilie green boinict pep|5er, and two parts crumbs of bread, made into a large 

 pill, and given every two hours, or oftener, till the stomach is settled. Or three grains 

 genuine powder of C'aj"enne pepper, made into a firm pill, and completely CDated 

 with white wafer, to be given as above. This medicine has been given patients in the 

 end of the yellow fever, when debility and extreme weakness had taken place, and 

 with the liappiest effect. It warms and stimulates the stomach, brings r n a genial 

 warmtli and diaphoresis, and assists greutly in giving a iavourabie turn to this disorder. 

 JVriglit, 



In recent pleuritic stitches a poultice of bruised peppers, tippHed to the place af- 

 fected, frequently removes the complaint ; and the berries bruised, and mixed with 

 lard, is recommended to be rubbed on paralytic limbs. 



The following recipe is the famous pepper medicine for the cure of malignant in- 

 fluenza and sore throats ; which has been found highly eihcacious, and is recouimended 

 -as a powerful diaphoretic, stimulant, and antiseptic : Take two Uible-spoonfuls of 

 mall red pepper, or three of common Cayenne'pepper, add two of fine salt, and beaC 

 them into a paste ; add half a jjint of boiling water, strain off the liquor when cold, and 

 4idd tu it half a pint of very siiarp vinegar. Give a tuble spoonful every haif hour as a 



duso 



