SPONTANEOUS  GENERATION  OF  PRUSSIC  ACID. 
513 
EXTRACT  OF  CAPSICUM. 
By  W.  C.  Bakes. 
At  the  request  of  a  physician  of  this  city,  I  have  been  induced 
to  prepare  the  above  extract.  Although  the  Pharmacopoeia  re- 
cognises the  Infusum  Capsici,  and  also  the  Tinctura  Capsici,  yet 
it  is  not  always  convenient  to  administer  a  medicine  in  the  form 
of  a  liquid  ;  therefore  an  extract  was  thought  of,  as  being  perhaps 
the  most  convenient  to  the  medical  profession.  After  some  ex- 
periments. I  have  found  the  following  formula  the  most  satisfac- 
tory : 
Take  of  Powdered  Capsicum,  8  ounces. 
Dilute  Alcohol,  1|  pint. 
Moisten  the  capsicum  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  dilute 
alcohol,  and  set  the  mixture  aside  in  a  close  vessel,  to  macerate, 
for  six  days  ;  then  place  it  in  a  percolator  and  pour  dilute  alcohol 
on  it  until  four  pints  have  been  obtained ;  and  evaporate  by  means 
of  a  water  bath  to  the  consistence  of  an  extract.  I  have  found 
eight  ounces  of  the  powder  to  yield  two  ounces  of  extract.  It  is 
very  powerful ;  and  when  a  small  quantity  is  placed  on  the  tongue, 
it  produces  an  insupportable  burning  sensation  immediately  ;  and, 
if  left  too  long,  will  act  as  an  epispastic.  It  has  been  used  with 
success  combined  with  quinine,  in  cases  of  intermittent  fever,  oc- 
casioned by  the  too  frequent  use  of  ardent  spirits.  An  ointment 
made  in  the  following  manner : 
Take  of  Extract  Capsicum,  1  drachm, 
Simple  Cerate,  1  ounce, 
was  found  to  act  as  a  rubefacient  in  less  than  twenty  minutes. 
It  may  be  used  with  success  where  a  simple  rubefacient  is  re- 
quired. 
SPONTANEOUS  GENERATION  OF  PRUSSIC  ACID  IN  A  MEDICAL 
COMPOUND. 
By  John  T.  Plummer,  M.  D.,  of  Richmond,  Indiana. 
I  do  not  know  that  the  attention  of  the  medical  profession  has 
heretofore  been  called  to  the  fact  that  alkaline  combinations  with 
organic  matters,  at  least  sometimes  generate  hydrocyanic  acid. 
34* 
