Capsicum

This drug, Capsicum fastigiatum, is of American origin, its home being in the West Indies, Mexico, and other tropical countries of America, where it, at the time of the discovery of America, was used by every one as an important pepper in preparing food. In domestic American medicine capsicum has ever been an important remedy, being also a prominent drug in the Thomsonian school (638) of American medicine. It was introduced into the Pharmacopeia and used principally in the form of a tincture, and is now a member of most materia medicas throughout the world. By far the largest amount of capsicum, however, is consumed in culinary directions.

The History of the Vegetable Drugs of the U.S.P., 1911, was written by John Uri Lloyd.