144 FLORA HOMCOPATHICA. 
cme under the allopathic school, it has been chiefly valuable 
as a local stimulant to the mouth and throat in cynanche 
maligna and scarlatina anginosa; also in the dyspepsia of 
drunkards, as a gastric stimulant. It has also been used in 
cholera, low fevers, intermittents, and dropsies. Dr. Wright 
(Med. Facts and Observ.) extols it as a remedy against the black 
vomit in fevers of tropical climates. 
Descriprion.—Capsicum annuum is an herbaceous annual, 
from one to three feet high. Peduncles solitary. ruit oblong. 
Stem nearly simple, round, a little striated, smooth. Leaves 
egg-shaped, acuminate, entire, petioled, placed in no regular 
order. Petioles long, flexible, generally smooth, but sometimes, 
as well as the stem, a little pubescent. Flowers white, lateral. 
Peduneles long. Fruit smooth and shining ; very variable in its 
form and colour—in some instances long, straight, acute ; in 
others, short, thick, and obtuse; in some, red in colour; in 
others, yellow, and sometimes both colours on the same plant. 
The dried fruit sold by druggists is flat, more or less shrivelled, 
blunt, or pointed at one end, while the calyx and stalk are 
usually attached at the other end. The length of the berry is 
two to three inches; the breadth one-half to three quarters of 
an inch; the colour yellowish or reddish-brown ; the taste hot 
and pungent; the epidermis is tough and leathery ; the seeds 
are flattened and whitish. 
GEOGRAPHICAL Distrisvtion.—According to most authori- 
ties, a native of the East and West Indies ; according to Rox- 
burgh, a doubtful native of these countries, and originally 
from South America. It has, however, been used as a condi- 
ment in all Eastern countries from time immemorial. 
Parts USED IN Mepictne, and Mops or PreparATIoN.— 
The Capsules and Grains, at maturity, which are powdered, and 
then infused in twenty parts of alcohol, or the three first atte- 
nuations are made by trituration. 
PuysiotocicaL Errxcrs.—Capsicum belongs to the acrid 
aromatics. Applied to the skin it is a rubefacient and vesicant. 
