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.