Habitat.—Tropical America; cultivated also in other tropical countries.
Properties.—Capsicum when ground has a hot, pungent, spicy taste.
Constituents.—Capsicum contains capsaicin, a crystallizable, acrid body; capsicin, a volatile alkaloid; a fixed oil; fatty matter; resin.
Dose.—Horses, 20 gr. to 1 dr.; cattle, 1 to 2 dr., sheep and pigs, 5 to 10 gr.; dogs, 1 to 5 gr.
PREPARATIONS
FLUIDEXTRACTUM CAPSICI—FLUID EXTRACT OF CAPSICUM
Made by maceration and percolation with alcohol, and evaporated, so that 1 cc. equals 1 gm. of the crude drug.
Dose.—Horses, 10 m. to 1 dr.; cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep and pigs, 5 to 10 m.; dogs, 1 to 5 m.
TINCTURA CAPSICI—TINCTURE OF CAPSICUM
Made by percolation of capsicum, 100, with alcohol and water to make 1,000.