part II. Materia MEnrcA. — Cm-bo Ligni. 209

substances which are incompatible in formula with infusions ofcapsicum; and lead to the conclusion that it contains chieflycinclionin, a resin in which the acrimony resides, and vegetablemucus.

Medical -properties and uses. — The fruit of the capsicum, orCayenne pepper, is a powerful stimulant, unaccompanied withany narcotic property. It has been successfully given in atonicgout; in dyspepsia, when accompanied with much flatulence ;in tympanitis, and paralysis. In dropsies, and other cachecticcomplaints when chalybeates are indicated, a small portion ofpowdered capsicum is recommended as an excellent addition byDr. Wright; and Bergius says he used it with success inobstinate intermittents. 1 I have had sufficient experience of itsefficacy as an adjunct to cinchona in intermittents. It has alsobeen found beneficial in lethargic affections: but the diseasesthat capsicum has been found most useful in, are cynanchemaligna, and scarlatina maligna, in which it is given both in-ternally, and used as a gargle. Its sensible effects are heatin the stomach, and a general glow over the body, withoutmuch affecting the pulse; and as a gargle it cleans, withoutimpeding the healing of the ulcers of the fauces. Cataplasms ofcapsicum operate as powerful rubefacients without blistering theskin, and ai-e used in the West Indies to relieve the coma anddelirium which almost constantly attend tropical fevers. Thediluted juice of the fruit is said to be a sovereign remedy inophthalmia from relaxation.

Capsicum may be given in the form of pills, in doses fromgrs. vj. to grs. x. ; or fjss. to fjij. of a tincture made with giv.of capsicum and f^viij. of alcohol.' The gargle usually em-ployed is made by kneading into a paste jj. of Cayenne pepperand 9j. of common salt; then adding f ^ vj. of boiling water ;and to the solution, strained when cold, fjiv. of vinegar. Buta simple addition of fjij. of the tincture to f^vj. of water,or of infusion of roses, answers equally well.

Officinal preparations. Tinctura Capsici, L. D.

CARBO LIGNI. Lond. Edin. Dub. Charcoal.

Syn. Charbon de bois purifiee (_F.)> Reine Kohle (G.), Carbone di legna, (/.),Carbon lie lena (S.), Koyla {H.) y Zughal {A.), Arang (Malay.)

Charcoal is prepared for the common purposes of fuel, bypiling up billets of wood into conical heaps, which are coveredwith earth and sods, and then burned, with as little exposure tothe action of the air as possible : but for the preparation of thefiner kinds of charcoal, fit for medicinal use, the following pro-cess is employed. The wood to be charred is put, in the formof chips or of sawdust, into a large cast-iron cylinder, fixed inmasonry over a grate. This cylinder terminates at one end ina curved pipe, and the other end is furnished with a door,

1 Mat. Med. e Regno Veg.V

144.