The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-20
Communicated.

SrR: communication signed "Lovell," recently
appeared in your columns remarkng on reported
attempt by the British government to monopolze
the trade in Peruvian bark. Permit me to offer
some reflections pertinent to the subject, and to
which have been led by fair opportunities of OBJ
servaon. will not discuss the importance of this
drug, viewed merely regards it's efficacy might
say essentiality---in combating the malignant dis
eases incident to hot and maarial climates This is
every day more widely acknowledged; and if not
yet fully appreciated, it is for the only that
the experience of its uses in the remoter and
sickly portions Of our country is not universally
known. Nor, hope, is persuasion necessary to
convince the philanthropist and statesman that,
viewing the matter in this light only, strong mo-
tves exist for seeking to prevent our deprivation of
this remedy-so valuable means for the allevia-
ton of human suffering, powerful an antdote to
the noxious influences which prevail in large por-
lion of territory. But it is the convenience, fa
cility and safety of its use, which would especial
ly urge for consideration.
The sulphate Of quinine possesses, in addition to
its mere curative powers, properties peculiar and
so vauable as to claim the attention of every prac
teal man. The first is the specdness of its opera
ton il checks disease at the very outset, and may
rather be called preventive than remedial. The
second, and practically important is that il is
not dangerous; and no sickness nor debility is
sequent upon the use of the remedy itself Hence
even if we admit, for the sake OF argument, that
or yet to be discovered, may possess equal efficacy
as remedial agents, we have yet found no substi-
tute for qunine. 1t is well known that the arseni-
cal, mercural, and other febrifuges, dangerous
in the handling comparatively tardy in their opera
tion and produce sickness and debility attribute
BILE to the remedy ITSELF The subject of such treat
ment must become, for the time an invalid, unfit foi
his ordinary avOcations, hospital patient, and
an incumbrance on others. Moreover, if frequent
y used, these medicines must ultimately tell on the
constitution, affecting the physical energies not only
Of the individual but Of his posterty. Sad, indeed,
is the spectacle which many families in the newer
portions of our country present TO the eye Of the
traveller-parents in the prime of life prematurely
broken down by the conjoned effects of disease and
druga; infants feeble and sckly, who have inherited
no vigor of constitution, and derived no healthy
nourishment. Widely different is the operation of
quinIne. The laboring man, attacked by febrile
symptoms, may, without fear Of i'll consequences
this antidote, and go forth, without nconveni-
ence, 10 his ordinary avocations The soldier in the
field may take it, and make, as usual, hearty meal,
to give him strength for the day-sling his KNAPP
sack, shoulder his musket, and pursue the march,
neither suffering himself nor incumbering the COM
mand. speak that which have seen and known;
that which may easily be ascertained by abundant
testimony.
If these premises be admitted, measures to insure
ourselves an adequate supply of qunne are OF high
and urgent practical importance in two points of
view. First, regards the facilities and induce
mens for settlers of the southern and southwestern
portions of territory, the effects Of climate and
locality upon the physical constitution of the inhab
itants, and consequently upon the prosperity of the
country. II is not for the poor-the trader, whose
soul il intent upon pushing his busincssthe woods
man, whose daily bread depends upon his daily ef-
forts-to indulge in the luxury of retirement TO his
couch every slight Of ndsposition. Rather
than combat his ailment by prosrating medicines,
,he frontier settler will 60 forth with heavy
heart and feeble limbs to his daily toll. Malarial
diseases, like the venom of snake, proceed rapidly
from small beginnings to great effects The poor
man, al last reduced to inactiOn, either finds il too
late TO check the fatal poison or resorts 10 treat
ment, often from ignorant quacks often founded on
ms own Imperfect knowledge, which keeps him
to find his farm neglected his family in want of the
necessaries of life his frame shattered and nm
fitted for toll. These are discouraeemen,s f,m;l;,r
TO every settler in malaria districts of the frontier.
but give him medicine whose use is safe in The
hands OF the ignorant, convenient to the laborous
accessible TO the poor, and his lot is much anne
iorated, his contest with the obstacles Of nature
more equal
Itwould seem almost superHuous to argue tina,
self-neglcct, and the use OF facilitating medicines
must affect the constitution of the individual and Of his
progeny. Much as that once hardy pioneer, who
shouldered his axe, and went boldly forth to con-
quer the wilderness, may be worsted, we cannot
hope that the puny, sickly children, who hang list
lessly about bis cabin door will ever equal his
present energies. 1t is unnecessary TO add that the
prosperity Of the country is dependent, IN some
measure preserving unimpaircd the physical en-
erges OF the race. There also suggests itself the
present necessity Of being provided with the
Of keeping up in the field an army not greatly en-
numbered by hospitals, nor hindered and enfeebled
by disease II is not impossible that we may be
called on to operate with military force in south
ern climates, and in regions where conveniences
exist for establishing hospitals, nor for transporting
the sick OF What immense importance to success
il h TINT we shouId be fully armed 70 combat the