Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-11

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
Now quininei is a drug which belongs not only to
the medical fraternity but to everybOdy-a gift
from the gods, some one called it. This person
very probably had been sufferer from ague, and
knew the real value of che akaloid. Well, it is
a remedy, and good one, it may be OF interest to
look little into its history.
How many people who are fond of whisky, and
"a good jedge OF Hcker," will fail to ask what
brand IT is, or where 1T was made and yet what a
host there are who take auinine and never think,
or, perhaps care where 1t comes from. The CHIEF
thought seems to be how TO get the taste out OF
the mouth. There are not few who are part1cu-
lar about taking any remedy which is not purely
vegetable. Some OF thes are afraid of quinine be-
cause they think it viii get into their bones and
stay there. They think IL is a mineral or some
sort. These will not take mineral remedies know
1ngly but DO not hesitate TO take iron in medicine
and lime, potash, common salt, magnesia and
other mineral substances in food, although many
OF them not only get into the bones, but stay there
ana FORM the most important constituents Of the
bones. However, We know that quinine Is not q
mineral substance, but derived from the bark OF a
tree growing In South America
The very early history or the tree Is Shrouded In
obocurlIy but when the JesulitS went first TO Peru
they 10 nd some few traditions respecting the
tree but the probabilities that the abOrlgines
knew nOthing.Of It's medicinal value, using the bark
only for its c0loring matter TO dye their various
fabrics. Peru was discovered in 15l3 and no
mention is made of JeS,itS' bark, or Peruvian
bark as 1t was afterward called, until 1900. There
is story that some of the JeSuiIs, who suffered
severely from ague and the results Of malaria
drank out OF pool In the forest into which had
fallen one OF the trees Having the hot stage upon
them, they drank heartily, ana the following day
failed 10 have their regular fever and chill, and
looking for cause the bark was discovered. This
may or may not be true Another story Is that an
Indian cacique cured a Jesuit missionary who was
attacked with intermittent fever, and that Peru
Wan bark was what was used. Be that as 1t may,
the bark and its praises reached the court, and
the Countess OF ChinchOn, wife OF the VicerOy OF
Peru, was herself cured OF Intermittent fever. She
carried the bark to England, and being benevO-
lently Inclined dispensed IL 10 the poor. 1t was
N fin harE lott
being left out OF the name through aRerrOr Of
| spelling and it Is so called to this day.
The Peruvian bark began to be sent In 1910 TO
Spain TO their brethren by the JesuitS in Peru,
| and through them was spread all over Europe,
| being called at that time Jesuits bark, but this
1 maine was superseded by that OF Lady ChinchOn.
| For long time 1T was very costly because OF the
labor entaied in obtaining 1t and getting it out
| the sides OF mountains rather high, and -four
iShes best where the temperature Is warm and
| equal all the year round. Moist atmosphere is
also necessary and such condition Is also favor
| able 10 the luXuriant growth or climbing and
tw1ning plants, which so firmly clutch and bind
the trees VII! not fan until these vines are also
| cut loose. Then the bark is peeled OF and ar
ranged into bundles, which are packed out OF the
| forests upon the backs OF the poor natives The
| cascotTtheros or barA-peeiers endure great hard
| ships. They cannot understand The value OF the
bark, as they only regard IL as dye stuff and think
| there are better stJiffa nearer at hand.
| The system or cutting the trees down threat
| ened 10 exterininate them, and the method OF
1 a
founu was lrlSu With success. After these quar-
ter1ngs were removed the denuded surface Is COW
cred Win moss, and by the time the rest OF the
bark Il removed, that Is in four years, bark
| mas formed under the moss, which gives as good
Weld OF quliilne as The original bark. The trees
became 80 scarce that the Dutch government had
number OF trees transplanted to Java, where the
conditions were favorable for the growth and de-
| velopInent OF the bark. When these trees grew up
| analysis OF the bark showed that very inferior
| trees had been planted. However, better ones
were procured and did Well. About the same time
the English government took trees 10 the south OF
India, and they now have several million OF trees
yielding good bark, and there are here many pri-
yate plantations.
1t has been found that they thrive finely under
| cultivation, and that by .'Inossing" the trunks
| and using certain fertilizers the yield OF aunne
from The bark Is greater than In the wild trees.
| It's cultivation Is hot yet tried In the United
! states, but IL Is quite likely that suitable
| locations will be found where the trees NAV be
| Raised and then We VIII get cheaper quinine
Ihey say that In some parts OF Florida the ague
Is SO bad that people suffering from IL are hired 10
come and climb the orange trees, so that when
! the chill comes ON they shake the oranges on II
We get 10 raising our own cinchona bark these
| people will be able To get it, and the orange.
| growers will be Oliged 10 pick their oranges.