206 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE I'lIILIPPINES 



Botanical Description. — A plant with yellow flowers 

 and scandent stem, climbing straight up trees or artificial sup- 

 ports. Leaves cleft at the base, acute, entire, glabrous, dark 

 green. According to Blanco it is cultivated best in somewhat 

 sandy soil. Pasay, near Manila, and Bauang, in Batangas, 

 furnish a leaf most highly appreciated. 



Piper nigrum, L. 



NoM. VuLG. — Pimienta, Sp.; Paminta, Malisa, Tag.; BJaok 

 Pepper, Eng. 



Uses. — The berry-like fruit of the pepper is more extensively 

 used as a condiment in cooking than in the treatment of dis- 

 ease. Used in moderation, however, it is of considerable value 

 as a convenient stomachic and aid to digestion in tropical 

 countries where the digestive functions readily become sluggish. 

 Its abuse may lead to serious consequences, such as inflamma- 

 tion of the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane, of the portal 

 system and the liver itself. 



Pepper is used as a febrifuge in the various forms of malarial 

 fevers, in tlie form of granules of 8 or 10 berries in a cup of 

 brandy and anise (Spanish) ; this is taken by the patient in one 

 dose at the beginning of the cold stage and followed by large 

 quantities of water to relieve the thirst caused by the pepper. 

 This treatment causes the cold stage to rapidly subside and 

 more rapidly induces and intensifies the sweating stage. It is 

 said that no further attack of fever follows. 



Piperin (CiyHj^NOj) is febrifuge and is given in pill form 

 internally in doses of 30-60 centigrams ; the action of the crude 

 drug is evidently due to this neutral principle. 



Botanical Description. — The plant is a pei'ennial, climb- 

 ing shrub. Leaves oval, tapering at both extremities, 7-nerved. 

 Flowers yellow, in a spike. Stigmas 2, bifid. Fruit globose, 

 with one seed. 



