8
27TH JUNE 1895 , No. 407 , REVENUE.
From D. HOOPER, Esq., F.C.S., F.I.C., F.L.S., Government Quinologist, to Government Botanist
and Director, Cinchona Plantations, Nilgiris, dated Ootacamund, 15th May 1895.
I have the honour to make the following report on the analytical work conducted in the
Laboratory during the year ending 31st March 1895.
The products of cinchona bark manufactured at the factory at Nedivattam have been
tested as usual, and I am glad to be able to report favourably upon all the samples but one batch
of febrifuge which was returned for re-purifying. This febrifuge was found not to be up to
the standard in colour and consistence. The sulphate of quinine contained no excess of
sulphate of cinchonidine and was free from other impurities. Sulphate of cinchonidine of very
good quality has been made for the first time this year to meet the requirements of some of
the Presidency dispensaries.
The packets of quinine powders have been put up under my supervision and distributed to
some of the Collectors. The packets of quinine envelopes for distribution to the Post offices
are now being made up in accordance with G.O. No. 4556 of 22nd November 1894, Revenue,
but the scheme will not be established until further arrangements have been made with the
Postmaster-General.
A few analyses have been conducted of crown barks which are of interest in showing that
manure has the effect of sustaining a high percentage of alkaloids in cinchona barks. It has
been already shown by actual experiments, recorded in previous reports, that fish, bones, lime,
cattle and stable manure have a beneficial influence on the trees in producing a richer bark than
that from trees grown in natural soil. The following analyses of crown barks show that the
application of saltpetre increased the alkaloids to an extent far beyond the average amount
usually found in this species of cinchona:
—
I. Trees taken from plot XXIII, planted in 1868 and treated in July 1893 with cattle
manure and 4 oz. of saltpetre (200 lb. to the acre).
II. Trees from the same plot, but the saltpetre was sprinkled at the bottom of the
trenches (2 feet deep) near each tree.
III. Trees from the same plot. The saltpetre (4 oz. to each tree) was sprinkled round
the tree and the soil was lightly forked.
I V . T r e e f r o m p l o t V I I , p l a n t e d i n 1 8 6 5 . T h e s a l t p e t r e w a s s p r i n k l e d r o u n d t h e t r e e
and slightly forked in. The analysis shows an increase of alkaloids over the analysis made two
years ago of the same bark.
V. Trees from the same plot. The saltpetre was sprinkled round the trees and slightly
forked in.
VI. Trees from plot XXXV, planted in 1869. The whole of the plot was manured in
June 1893 with cattle and stable manure with the addition of 2 pounds of chalk per tree.
The following table gives a complete analysis of the barks of these trees:—
—
1
2
3
4
5 6
Quinine
5.66 4.55 4.68 5.89
5.04 4.86
Cinchonidine
.55
.47
.39
.43
.42
.40
Quinidine
.10
.36
.19
.12
Cinchonine
.23
.27
.25
.16
.20
.41
Amorphous alkaloids
.53
.66
.42
.32
.26
.60
Total
7.07
5.95 5.74 7.16
6.11 6.39
Sulphate of quinine
7.61 6.12 6.30 7.93
6.78 6.54
The bark used at Nedivattam for making quinine is a powdered mixture of the bark taken
from the stems and branches of the trees and contains a little under 4 per cent. of sulphate
of quinine. The bark from dead cinchona trees is often worthless; but if it is taken off before
the sap is dried up, the bark will be found to be but little impaired. Some trees growing in
poor soil in Hooker estate and showing signs of decay were felled and barked without delay
last November, and the analysis of the bark recorded below proves that its composition was
of the average quality of officinalis trees which would not have been the case if the trees had
been left much longer:—
Quinine
2.93
Cinchonidine
.71
Quinidine
.13
Cinchonine
.52
Amorphous
.71
Total
5.00
Sulphate of quinine
3.94