CHAP. 
304 SPICES 
inflamed parts, or for boils or pimples, and mixed with 
ghee for urticaria. 
In European medicines the use of pepper has almost 
completely been abandoned, except as a stimulant or 
flavouring for other medicines. 
Pepper Oil, the distillate of pepper, appears to have 
been prepared in the Middle Ages. It is first mentioned 
in 1574. The method of obtaining it was first described 
by Winther in 1750. 
Perfumery. — Piper onal or Artificial Heliotrope, 
is obtained from Piperine by distillation. It possesses 
a scent resembling that of Heliotrope, and is therefore 
used in perfumery. 
Ground white pepper, preferably that of Singapore, 
which contains 9T5 per cent of the alkaloid, is mixed 
with twice its volume of slaked lime and sufficient water, 
and evaporated on a water bath. The powder is then 
exhausted with commercial ether, when the piperine can 
be obtained nearly pure in straw-yellow crystals. From 
this, by the use of caustic potash. Potassium piper ate is 
formed and treated with permanganate of potash, when 
the piperonal crystallises out. 
Heliotropine is destroyed by sunlight and injured by 
heat. It requires to be kept in yellow glass bottles and 
preserved in a cool dark cellar till required for use. 
OTHER PEPPERS 
African pepper. Piper clusii, Dc., also known as 
Ashantee pepper, or West African pepper. 
This is a wild pepper widely distributed in tropical 
Africa, most abundant in the Mam-main country. It 
differs in appearance from black pepper, being one of the 
Cubeba section, characterised by the fruit being borne 
on a short stalk, whence the old Portuguese name of 
Pimienta da raho, i.e. tailed pepper. The plant is 
very handsome with its splendid red branches of fruit. 
The dried fruit is ashy grey, and possesses the taste 
and odour of pepper containing piperine. 
