The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-01-23
oulNINE FORESTS.
How the Cinchona Bark Is Procured
the State of Condenamarca.

the State of CondenSmarca.
In describing the quinine forests OF
the Andes, the German traveller, Fritz
Braunhoff, says: The little town OF
| La Paz is situated in the State OF Con-
| denamarca, ten thousand feet above the
level of the sea. Ten years ago it was
hardly known by name, while to-day it
is to the manufacturer and merchant OF
quinine the most important point on
the globe. Although but small viii
lage which can not even boast of
hotel, there is more life and traffic going
on than in many large cities. The
days are exceedingly hot, while the
nights are refreshingly cool. Although
American, German, English and French
agents have had business transactions
here for wears, there is little social life
, among them; they seem to mistrust
L each other, there being painful mys-
teriousness in their business intercourse;
but as the heavy transactions take
Il place mostly in forests and mount
aims, social intercourse in the town
seems not to be required. Upon our
arrival at La Paz, we engaged a
small dwelling for three months;
twenty wood-choppers were hired for
the same period, and, provided with
the necessary provisions, we struck out
!. for the mountains The chief remained
u in town to direct the packing and ex-
sof+' cinchona bark. The bark
ea5 is sent to La Paz either III small roll
be- stripped from the twigs or large
Aa+ opH thialy 10 no from
1e the trunk and main roots of the trees
n 1t is graded into four qualities; first
lie the brown or gray, also called tn
1t Peruvian bark; second, the yellow o
l. Bolivia bark; third, the red bark, an
ID fourth, the imitation, or ''quininova.
re The price of the bark is regulated &C
I'd cording to the amount of alkaloid an
he other medicinal ingredients it contains
ID The most valuable is the cinchona-flov
lie and cinchona-calisaya which contain
Id most of the alkaloid. This latter is th
he only tree of the cinchona family whic
IN grows in the vicinity of La Paz, and
ed found at height of from thirty-thre
b. hundred to eleven thousand six hundre
feet above the level of the sea, As tn
ne product differs in strength, chemists al
ne employed to determine and classify i
e. value accordingly.
mt The hills and mountains are covere
EST with dense forests of these ever gree
re- trees, but their destruction is so rap
to that the government of CondenamarC
It'll had recently to pass law prohibitir
the young trees from being slaughtert
ed together with the rest. As soon as
asst certain amount of bark has been s
IN, cured it is dried on the spot, and
&C. quantity of quinine examined, and
led the result is satisfactory the telling
mt trees is proceeded with. While he
the men are thus occupied the 9th
OF half peel off the bark, and every eve
rds ing the produce of the day is load
as upon mules and sent to La Paz, whe
ne it is pulverized, sewed into hides
mt bags, and Immediately transported
De the cities on the coast.
up The soiourn in these forests, with
'er- damp atmosphere and the absence
fresh water, is exceedingly unhealtll
sps When it is considered that thousan
lnd of hands are continually busy in fell
these trees, an idea can be formed
the enormous consumption Of quinii
However, it will not be ma
- years before the cinchona forests
: the Andes will be among the thin
of the past. The Dutch have
Y late years cultivated the quini
ely tree in the East Indies and
J to pecially in Java, with surprising
eat suits; here the trees are not destroy,
md but only partially deprived of tn
~. bark, so that in the course of years
'lns bark is renewed and ready for anotl
sew crop Chicago Times.