69 



Japanlsk CHILLIKs?. 



In a note on Recent Additions to the Museum ot' the Pharmaceu- 

 tical Society (Pharm. Journal, Dec. 11, 1897), Mr. E. M. Holmes, 

 F.L.S., furnished the following interesting particulars at. an evening 

 meeting of the Society, respecting Japanese ami other Chillies. 



u During the last three or tour years there has been in commerce 

 a very bright red variety of Capsicum minimum, Roxb. (C. fastigiatum, 

 Bl.) said to be imported from Japan. In consequence of its clean, 

 bright, and attractive appearance it has commanded a higher price than 

 other varieties. Mr. J. C. Umney has recently directed my attention 

 to the fact that this variety is less pungent than the Sierra Leone and 

 Zanzibar varieties, although tar superior to them in colour. On further 

 inquirv I find that this fact is well known to drug and spice brokers. 

 Mr. Umney points out that when an alcoholic tincture of the Japanese 

 and Zanzibar varieties are respectively diluted with about 14 parts of 

 water, the former gives a much clearer solution than the latter, indicat- 

 ing less oily matter. All the bright red Cayenne pepper until recently 

 in commerce is said to have been imported trom Natal in that state. 

 The entire pod pepper imported trom Natal is a variety of Capsicum 

 annuum, much larger than the chillies, awl of a dark red colour and 

 very pungent, whereas the powdered Japanese and Natal Cayenne pep- 

 per? placed side by side are indistinguishable in point of colour. The 

 other principal varieties of chillies at present in English commerce are, 

 I am informed, those of Sierra Leone and Zanzibar, the former being 

 of a yellowish-red tint, and the latter of a dull, dark red, and often of 

 inferior quality, con 1 .ining badly-dried fruits, stalks and foreign 

 matter, but both are more pungent than the Japanese kind. 

 The latter is, however, quite pungent enough for most people, 

 although perhaps unsuitable, by reason of its lesser pungency, for 

 medicinal purposes, as an outward application, etc. 1 am indebted 

 to Mr. Young, of the firm of Messrs. Dalton and Young, for in- 

 formation concerning the different commercial varieties and for 

 specimens illustrating them. My object in directing attention 1o these 

 commercial varieties is to point out to students and to retail chemists, 

 that there are often differences in the qualities and appearance of the 

 same drug, which are worthy of careful observation, not only from a 

 scientific, but also from tl ouuimercial point of view. Nepal Cayenne 

 pepper is made from a small variety of Capsicum annuum, and is re- 

 markable for its violet odour. Neither this kind nor the Zanzibar gives 

 a red, but a brownish, powder. 



The tollowing comments on Mr. Holmes' paper were made at the 

 meeting bv Mr MacEwan: — 



u The subject of cayenne pepper was interesting to many chemist* 

 mute apart from medicinal purposes, probably more capsicum being 

 sold for feeding birds than for any other purpose. The pepper used in that 

 way was tasteless, and seemed to contain a hrge amount of fatty matter. 

 It was dark in colour, and the object was to heighten the colour of the 

 feathers. It was supposed to come from Capsicum annuum, and he 

 should much like to know where it came from. It was only supplied 



