Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-05-16

COUNTY. IOWA, MA
Sulphate Of Quinia and sulphate
Of Cinchonidia.
| The medicinal properties of sui.
phate ofquinia are SO generally and
40 well understood that it is almost
unnecessary to refer to them; but II
may be of interest to our readers Il
mention few facts regarding the va.
rious alkaloids-other than quinia-
which are found in the cinchons
barks.
s,Our attention has been directed tc
this subject by the present high price
of sulphate quinia, which is quoted al
$4.25 to $3.50 per ounce in this coun.
try, against $2.2O per ounce this tirae
last year, and Is to 16 shlllings pei
ounce in England, against shillings
pence per ounce in February, 1876
The advance in price is due to the
scarcity and enhanced value Of Gin.
chona barks, and the explanation of
this is the difficulty of transporting
the bark from the interior to the sea.
board in Peru and other South Amer
lean States on account of internal dis.
turbances, and these states are the
source of large supplies of the bark.
1t is we'll known that high prices
tend to diminish consumption, and
and direct attention to other articles
that may be substituted tor those
commanding extreme figures; and
we arc, therefore, not surprised to
learn that the cheapest. alkaloids Of
cinchona barks are now claiming
special notice.
The principal alkaloids, other than
quinia, are quinidia, cinchonidia and
cinchonia. AS to the prices Of these
preparations, we learn that sulphate
of quinidia is selling at about one
third the price of sulphate Of quinia ;
sulphate of cinchonidia about one
seventh the price, sulphate of cincho-
mia about one-eighteenth. As to their
medicinal value we are informed that
in the opinion Of very many physi-
clans here and abroad, they are re-
garded as fully equal to sulphate of
quinia.
1t is to be observed that they are
offered by the American manufac-
turers in ample quantity and at the
low prices above indicated, SO that
no danger of failure to provide for
the necessities Of all classes of our
people in this direction need be ap.
pretended.
Now, as to their medicinal prop
critics: "In the year 1866 the Madras
Government appointed a medical
commission to test the respective eff
cacy, in the treatment of fever, Of quiz
nine, quinidine, cinchonine and cin-
chonidine. OF tho sulphates of these
alkaloids due supply specially pre-
pared under Mr.. Howard's superin-
tendence, was placed at the disposal
of the commission. From the report
(Blue Book-East India Cinchona Gull
tivation, 1870, PIP. l46-l72) It appears
that the number of cases Of paroxys-
NAL malarious fevers treated was
2472, namely: SAG with with quinine,
654 with quinidine, $50 with cincho-
nine and 4O3 with cinchonidine. OF
these 2472 cases, 2445 cases were cured
and 27 failed. The difference in re-
medal value of the four alkaloids, as
deduced from these experiments, may
be thus stated:
2uinidine-Ratio of failures per 1000 sases. 9
Cincnonias Ginchoniaiee !" f" :. !,
"The Indian Government, acting on
the recommendation of Mr.. Howard,
officially advised (Dec. l6, 1879 the
more free use in India of cinchona al
ksloids other than quinine, and espe-
cially of sulphate of cinchonidine,
which is procurable in abudance from
red bark"
The matter is attracting the atten-
ton of medical men generally in this
country, and in view of this fact the
Surgeon General has issued the fol-
lowing circular letter with reference
to the use of sulphates of the cincho-
ma alkaloids by medical officers Of the
marine hospital service, April II,
1877:
ssTo the Medical Officers Of the United
States Marine Hospital service:
"Calling your attention to the ex
price OF the qIinia SsuipnaSe, ana a
the same time to the accumulatinQ
testimony in favor of the employment
Of the quinidia, cinchonidia and Gin.
chonia sulphates Of which the two first
named are believed to be as effica-
cious as the quinia sulphate, it is sug-
gested that the less costly salts be ac-
corded fair trial.
"You are requested to take this
matter in consideration in preparing
your next semi-annual requisition for
medical supplies, to be forwarded
during the coming month"
The result of the experience of our
army surgeons will be looked for
with interest. The sulphate of Gin
shonidia is not, however, o new medi-
cine to the faculty in this country,
and when it has been accorded fair
trial, it is said to have fully sustained
the claims made for it.-Daily Inter
Ocean, Chicago, April 81, 1877.