CONCENTRATED TINCTURE OF CAPSICUM. 183 
with sulphuric acid the characteristic odor of formic acid, 
and with sulphuric acid and alcohol the still more charac- 
teristic smell of formic ether ; oxalate of ammonia showed 
the presence of lime. 
The amount of formic acid present in stinging nettles is 
certainly small ; but this will not appear surprising, if we 
suppose that this acid is contained only in the stinging hairs, 
an assumption which is confirmed by the microscopic 
observations of Will and Lucus. When, for instance, solu- 
tion of silver is added to the plant under the microscope, 
and a gentle heat applied, reduction always first occurs at 
the extremity of the stinging hair. Chemical Gazette, 
January 1, 1850, from Jour n. fur Prakt. Chem., xlviii. 
p. 191. 
ART. XL VII. — CONCENTRATED TINCTURE OF CAPSICUM, A 
REMEDY FOR CHILBLAINS AND TOOTHACHE. 
By A. Turnbull, M. D. 
At this season few diseases are so general as chilblains, 
and the plans that are generally employed for their 
removal are seldom attended with more than very slight 
advantage to the sufferers. 
It is a disease that attacks most generally females and 
delicate children, and those of a languid circulation. The 
very numerous and various medicines which have been 
from time to time employed, prove very clearly that no 
very effective or successful plan of treatment has hitherto 
been found. Such is the present state of treatment both of 
chilblains and toothache. 
My plan of treatment is simply to saturate a piece of 
sponge or flannel with the concentrated tincture of capsi- 
cum, and to rub well over the seat of the chilblains until 
such time as a sirong tingling or electrical feeling is pro- 
duced. This medicine possesses an extrordinary power ina 
