144
another 4 ounces during the remainder of the year, so that 10 ounces may be
estimated as the average amount such small vendors would dispose of each
year. As will he seen most of the vendors supplied were the owners of tea
shops, and in one of these tea shops 151 tubes were sold or over 20 ounces of
quinine. Only three indigenous drug-sellers were supplied but one of them
was successful in disposing of 132 tubes or over 18 ounces of the drug. In one
case the muccadum in charge of a chawl sold as many as 83 tubes. This man
who was a Mussulman was anxious to obtain 400 tubes to send to Mecca but
the conditions of the experiment did not allow of its being supplied to him.
415. The conclusion to be drawn from this small experiment is that the
supply of a palatable form of quinine—preferably sugar-coated tablets put up
conveniently and attractively in small quantities at a price within the reach
of the masses of the population—is likely to meet with a considerable demand,
and if it is supplied to vendors at a price which will allow them a fair profit
as an inducement for pushing its sale, the results both as regards the
popularization of the remedy and the mitigation of malaria are likely to
be very satisfactory.
416. The use of sugar-coated tablets appears to be an important factor
in conducing to the popularization of the drug. A missionary who was recently
on tour in the Konkan was given a small supply of the tubes to distribute and
asked to express his opinion as to their probable reception if placed upon sale.
In a recent letter referring to this matter he states :—
" One thing which has been commented on with peculiar satisfaction
" is the advantage of the sugar-coated tablet form over the quinine powder
" (or crystals). One Police Officer, not quite fully conversant with English
"
said that the ' sourness' (meaning ' bitterness') of the
" quinine in packets prevented his men from using the latter although
" supplied to them free, but that these tablets could be taken readily."
417. A point that was remarked upon by some of the vendors was that
there was no maker's name upon the tubes supplied ; but this is a matter that
can easily be arranged. The size of the tablets was objected to by some,
especially when they required the remedy for the use of children, and it is
probable that a smaller, tablet about the size of those used in Italy would be
more suitable. The Italian tablets are sugar-coated and contain 0.20 of a
gramme (about 3 grains) of quinine. Tablets of either bi-sulphate or bi-
hydrochloride of quinine are on sale in that country at every shop licensed to
sell salt or tobacco.
418. On the score of cheapness the bi-sulphate of quinine is especially
suitable for India, and there is no reason to believe that it is much inferior to
the other salts of quinine in the treatment of the vast majority of cases of
malaria. But to make quinine a popular remedy it must be administered in a
palatable form, and although sugar-coated tablets may not be quite so effective
as solutions of quinine, the powdered drug, or even uncoated tablets, there
is little question that they are very much better than no quinine at all; and
the result of practical experiment has been to shew that when dealing with
large numbers of people among whom persuasion and not compulsion has to be
relied upon, sugar-coated tablets of quinine are more generally effective than
any other form of the drug.
43 9. A considerable amount of quinine in this form is already consumed
in Bombay not only among European and educated Indians but among certain
of the poorer classes. Usually sugar-coated tabloids containing 2 grains appear
to be used. They are sold in the bázár for about Re. 1-4 a bottle of 100. But
there are many people who do not know of them or cannot afford to purchase
as large a quantity as 100. Among the better class of coolies many do not
care to attend hospitals or dispensaries for gratuitous treatment, but they will
readily purchase medicine that they think is really useful, and it is these people
who will welcome the sale of quinine tablets.
420. Treatment of cases of Malaria in Bombay.—It is necessary to refer
to the treatment of cases of malaria in Bombay, because enquiry has shewn that
there is good reason to believe that the treatment received by sufferers from
malaria in the city is not always efficient. It has been found that many people