PEPPER. 301 



home consumption. Ground pepper is much used for culinary pur- 

 poses, and often as a stimulating medicine. No less than 3,682,342 

 Ibs. were imported into G. Britain in 1840. 



The productions of pepper are Sumatra (west coast) 20 million Ibs. ; 

 do. (east coast) 8 millions ; Straits of Malacca 3,600,000 ; Malay 

 peninsula 3,733,333 ; Borneo 2,666,667 ; Siam 8 millions ; Malabar 

 4 million Ibs. There are annually imported into the U. States about 

 two and a half million Ibs., though much of this is exported. The 

 value imported in 1840 was $189,928. 



Botanists reckon about 60 species of pepper, some of which are 

 found in every quarter of the earth, except Europe. The black is a 

 perennial found on the sides of mountains. It was at one time the 

 principal export from Java. The plant has been introduced into Cay- 

 enne ; and one plantation contains more than 30,000 plants. Malabar 

 is the chief pepper country of India. The plant is propagated by 

 shoots, which bear the 4th year, decline after the 8th, and cease to 

 bear after the 10th or 12th. Each bunch contains 20 or 30 berries, 

 and 6 or 7 Ibs. are afforded by a tree. The harvest in Sumatra is in 

 Sept. and Oct., and a smaller crop is often gathered in March. The 

 plants are constantly watered and kept perfectly free from weeds. The 

 white pepper is from the same tree and the best is thought superior to 

 the black. The 3 sorts are, 1st, Molucca, 2d, Catongee, and 3d, Nega- 

 ree, which is the lightest and worst ; the berries should therefore al- 

 ways be weighed. 



The Greeks derived their knowledge of it from the Hindoos, and 

 their physicians used it in several diseases. The finest kind is called 

 shot pepper, from its hardness. It is sometimes deprived of its husks 

 by trituration, or is bleached by chlorine. White pepper (piper al- 

 burn) is the fruit of the external fleshy part, and is larger, less acrid 

 and pungent than the black. 



The Long pepper is found wild in India among bushes on water 

 courses, and is cultivated in Bengal. The roots, cut and dried, are an 

 article of commerce all over India. It (piper longum) is an inch in 

 length, with a mild aromatic odor and violent, pungent taste. It is 

 more acrid than the black, and its composition, uses, and medicinal 

 effects are similar. It is much used for culinary purposes and in many 

 pharmacopseial preparations. 



Cubcb pepper resembles the black, but is lighter and the plant is dif- 

 ferent. Its analysis also exhibits some different principles, which dis- 

 tinguish it. It is much used in medicine, chiefly for the same pur- 

 poses as the black, but especially for gonorrhrea. Several medicinal 

 preparations are also made of it. The Indians macerate the berries 

 in wine and drink it to excite their passions. In affections of the 

 bladder and prostrate glands they are given in powder, from 10 to 30 

 grains. The volatile oil is obtained by distillation. This and other 

 preparations of Cubebs are used medicinally. 



