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Show BLACK PEPPER, cluster on the stalk. 31 The fruit which sneceeds is a berr y : twentyorthirty are seen crow ding one stalk, at first gree n, then red, and afterwards black, but white internally, ty HISTORY. aS 4 = bargei ~4 Sp. 1. The black pepper is the fruit of a shrubby creeping plant, which grows wild in the ast Indies, and is cultivated, with much advantage to the fruit, in Java and Malabar. The berries are gathered before theyare ripe, and are dried in the sun. They become black and corrugated on the surface; their taste is hot and fiery, and their smell slightly aromatic. NW WO INI eae] Neumann got from 7680 parts 4800 watery, and afterwards 180 alcoholic extract ; and inversely, 1080 alcoholic and 3640 watery. The principle on which its pungency depends, was soluble both in water andin alcohol, and was not volatile, for 7680 grains furnished about 150) of a very bland volatile oil, From this analysis Dr. Thomson’s differs remarkably, By ma. cerating it in alcohol, and distilling the tincture, he gota green volatile oil, having the whole flavour and pungency of the pepper. Besides this essential principle, he found it to contain an extractive and starch. 1h a Sp.2. White pepper is the fruit of the same plant gathered after it is fully ripe, and freed of its external coat by mac era tio n in water. It is smooth on the Surface, and Jess pun gent than the black pepper. Sp. 3. Piper Cubeba. BLACK PEPPER. PIPER NIGRUM. Cubebs are brought Class 11. Diandria. Essent. Gen, Cuar, spec. CHAR, Calyx none: Order ITI. Trigynia. Corolla none: R: rry one-seeded, Leaves ovate, seven-nerved, smooth: Petioles very simple, SSE DESCRIPTION, Pan stem is jointed, and forked, of a green colour but woody texture, climbing like the hop, or trailing upon the ground. When running along the ground, at every joint they send out roots. The leaves stand singly, and are roundish, and of a firm texture, each having seven nerves. of a dusky green on the upper side, and of a paler green under neath, standing on short peti- oles. The flowers are small and monopetalous, divided into three segments at the end, having no pedu ncles, but are p! placed in a from Java, This fruit has a great re. semblance to black pepper. The most obvious differ ence is, that each cubeb is fur nished with a longslend er stalk, whence theyare called by so me piper caudatum, In aromatic warmth and pungency, cubebs are far inferior to pepper . Neumann got from 960 grains, 310 alcoholic and 272 watery extract; and inversely , 380 watery and 61 alc oho lic. It also furnishes some volatile oil. The warmth and Pungen cyof these spices are said to reside entirely in a resin; the ir aromatic odourin ane sse nti al oil. In medicine, they are som etimes employedas acr id stimulants; but their chief use is in coo kery, as condiments, MEDICAL USES All these different kin ds of Pepper contain an essential oil, and fixed resinous and gumn 1yY principles, but the fiery. acrid |