CAPSICUM, a genus of plants, the fruits of which are used as peppers. As used in medicine, the ripe fruit of Capsicum mimum (or frutescans), containing the active principle capsaicin (capsacutin), has remarkable physiological properties. Applied to the skin or mucous membrane, it causes redness and later vesica tion. Internally in small doses it stimulates gastric secretions but if used in excess causes subacute gastritis. In single excessive doses it causes renal irritation and inflammation and strangury. Capsicum is valuable in atony of the stomach due to chronic alcoholism, in the flatulency of the aged, and in functional tor pidity of the kidney. Externally capsicum plaster placed over the affected muscles is useful in rheumatism and lumbago. Capsicum wool, known as calorific wool, made by dissolving the oleoresin of capsicum in ether and pouring it on to absorbent cotton-wool, is useful in rheumatic affections.