800 
ON  CAPSICUM  ANNUUM. 
mostly  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  but  leaving  quite  a  perceptible 
precipitate  which  refused  to  dissolve ;  thus  showing  the  presence 
of  phosphoric  acid  and  a  small  portion  of  sulphuric  acid. 
Some  of  the  solution  was  evaporated  to  dryness,  and  on  the 
addition  of  an  acid,  a  considerable  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  was 
given  off. 
The  insoluble  portion  of  the  ashes  was  next  treated  with  water, 
acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid.  On  the  addition  of  this  acid, 
a  considerable  quantity  of  carbonic  acid  was  set  free.  A  portion 
of  the  solution  with  a  solution  of  ferrocyanide  of  potassium  gave 
a  deep  blue  precipitate,  showing  the  presence  of  iron. 
To  another  portion  was  added  some  solution  of  potassa  in 
excess,  and  the  insoluble  portion  collected  on  a  filter.  The 
filtrate  was  then  neutralized  with  a  few  drops  of  hydrochloric 
acid  and  a  solution  of  ammonia  added  in  excess,  when  a  gelati- 
nous precipitate  of  alumina  was  obtained.  The  insoluble  portion 
left  on  the  filter  was  dissolved  in  a  little  dilute  nitric  acid,  and 
to  this,  some  solution  of  phosphate  of  soda  and  a  few  drops  of 
solution  of  ammonia  were  added,  when  a  crystalline  precipitate 
of  the  double  phosphate  of  ammonia  and  magnesia  was  formed. 
With  a  solution  of  oxalic  acid  and  a  few  drops  of  solution  of 
ammonia,  some  lime  was  detected  in  the  solution.  With  a  solu- 
tion of  chloride  of  barium,  an  insoluble  precipitate  of  sulphate  of 
baryta  was  also  obtained.  The  insoluble  portion  left  after  the 
treatment  by  hydrochloric  acid,  was  boiled  with  a  concentrated 
solution  of  potassa,  and  this,  neutralized,  by  some  hydrochloric 
acid,  but  no  silica,  was  precipitated  by  these  means.  The 
remaining  insoluble  matter  consisted  almost  entirely  of  carbon. 
The  organic  constituents  of  capsicum  from  these  experiments, 
appear  to  be  ;  extractive  with  gum,  a  reddish  brown  oil,  a  yellow- 
ish-brown oil  or  soft  resin,  a  peculiar  fatty  substance,  albumen, 
pectin,  a  peculiar  gum,  starch  and  coloring  matter.  The  ashes 
contain  carbonate  and  phosphate  of  potassa,  chloride  of  potas- 
sium, sulphate  and  carbonate  of  lime,  sesquioxide  of  iron,  alum- 
ina and  magnesia. 
The  conclusions  which  I  draw  from  these  experiments,  are — 
First,  that  capsicum  owes  its  properties  to  two  oily  substances, 
which  differ  mainly  from  each  other  by  their  fluidity,  by  their 
color,  and  their  solubility  in  alcohol,  and  neither  of  which  are 
