Part 27

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.

DOSE.--Horses, 2 to 4 dr.; cattle, ¹⁄₂ to 1 oz.; sheep and pigs, 20 m. to 1 dr.; dogs, 5 to 30 m.

OLEORESINA CAPSICI--OLEORESIN OF CAPSICUM

Made by percolation with acetone, distillation and evaporation of the residue.

DOSE.--Horses, 10 to 30 m.; cattle, ¹⁄₂ to 1 dr.; sheep and pigs, 1 to 5 m.; dogs, ¹⁄₂ to 1 m.

ACTION AND USES.--Capsicum and its preparations are irritants, stimulating stomachics, carminatives and rubefacients. Large doses, especially in carnivora and omnivora, are irritant poisons, inflaming the alimentary and sometimes also the urino-genital mucous membranes. Properly regulated doses are indicated in atonic indigestion and flatulent colic in horses combined with ammonium carbonate. It may be advantageously combined with bitters, as nux vomica. Capsicum is a favorite stimulant and tonic remedy--to the digestion--with poultry fanciers. It also increases the laying of eggs when given to hens. Externally capsicum is rubefacient and counter-irritant, producing about the same degree of irritation as mustard, but causing considerable pain. It ought not be used for blistering ointments or for setons.

CHLOROFORMUM--CHLOROFORM

A liquid consisting of 99 to 99.4 per cent, by weight, of absolute chloroform, and 0.6 to 1 per cent alcohol.

DERIVATION.--Alcohol and water are heated in a still to 37.70° C. (100° F.), when chlorinated lime is added and chloroform is evolved.

PROPERTIES.--Chloroform is a heavy, clear, colorless, mobile and diffusible liquid, of a characteristic ethereal odor, and a burning sweet taste. Specific gravity not below 1.476 at 25° C. (77° F.). Soluble in 200 times its volume of cold water, and in all proportions in alcohol, ether, benzol, benzine and the fixed and volatile oils. Chloroform is not inflammable. Chloroform should be kept in dark amber colored well stoppered bottles in a cool and dark place.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 dr.; sheep and pigs, 20 to 40 m.; dogs, 2 to 8 m. Should be well diluted with glycerine, syrup, eggs or diluted alcohol; the above dose can be repeated every two or three hours.

PREPARATIONS

AQUA CHLOROFORMI--CHLOROFORM WATER

A saturated solution of chloroform and distilled water, it should contain one-half per cent of chloroform. Chloroform water has been proven to be an excellent vehicle for administering active remedies, and, owing to its antiseptic properties, mixtures having it for a basis resist decomposition longer than those made with ordinary water. Used extensively as a vehicle in cough and diarrhoea mixtures.

LINIMENTUM CHLOROFORMI--CHLOROFORM LINIMENT

Made from chloroform, 300 parts, soap liniment 700 parts.

SPIRITUS CHLOROFORMI

Made from chloroform 60 parts, alcohol, 940 parts.

DOSE.--Horses and cattle, 1 to 2 oz.; sheep and pigs, 2 to 4 dr.; dogs, 20 to 40 m.

CHLOROFORM EMULSUM--EMULSION OF CHLOROFORM