The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-06-19
QUiNINE A CuRE-ALI
Where Cinohons Bark Is Obtained IN
~ How It IL Marketed.

WnerO Clnohono BARK Is Obtained ana
How It IL Marketed.
OF tho thousands who say quinine 10
good for every thing" few are aware
that Its introduction into the pharmaco-
poeia is Of comparatively recent date.
Quinine is one of the most com non of
homeopathic drugs and is use d for all
ailments. 1t is an alkaloid obtained
from the cinchona bark. whose won-
derful properties as tonic became
known about 1887. At that time the
Countess of Cinchon, Vice-Queen of
Peru, was very i'll with lingering fe-
yer, and the best medical men of Sonth
America were in attendance and had al
most despaired of the Countess recoy.
cry. One day washerwoman appeared
st the palace gate and gave the Count
oss' maid bark which she directed to
he given to her mistress. The Countess
rallied. and in a short time recovered.
The strange bark was then called cinch-
ona bark. whose praises the Vice-Queen
was always singing.
Qulnine came into general use in Eu-
rope about the close of the seventeenth
century, and for about ono hundred
years the Europeans were dependent
upon few South American States for
their supply, which was very meager, as
Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, which wore
the chief producers, were continually
wrangling with each other. Their
squabbles prevented the natives gather.
ing cinchona bark, and often in few
weeks the price of quinine would fluctu-
ate several dollars a pound. These pet
ty states monopolized the trade IN the
severest manner, and the poor bark.
gatherers were compelled to sell their
stuff for whatever the government chose
to give, and at present the South Amer
lean States levy duty on all the bark
exported.
The Europeans soon became tired of
this way of securing their supply and
the Dutch were the first, after years of
experimenting, to succeed in breaking
the South American monopoly. They
found that the tree would grow in the
East Indies. Tho English Government,
jealous of their rivals success, sent out
numerous expeditions to investigate tho
whole subject and see whether or not
the trees could be transplanted, and this
was successfully done after many trials
in northern India.
Although tho trees fourishod where
they had been transplanted the Dutch
encountered other obstacles. It was
found that the bark of the same species
OF trees was of very irregular quality,
and although it all looked alike it often
required chemical analysis to ascertain
its value. Some barks yield as high as
thirteen per cent. alkaloids, upon which
the value of cinchona depends.
: The season for gathering the bark be-
gins in August and lasts till October or
November, according to tho weatr er.
After it is stripped from the tree it h Is
to be thoroughly dried and then packed
in ceroons of moisJened cowhido or in
bales of heavy sacking. Most of these
are branded with trademarks. Some OF
these have attained considerable rcpu.
tation, and any bark in tho bales
so named can be relied upon. 1t is
claimed that there is great doal OF
trickery used in the trade, as inferior OF
worthless barks are sometimes skillfuliy
mixed with good barks, and the differ.
ence is SO slight that all the imports are
analysed before they are accepted.
During the prevalence of Ia grippe in
this city the supply Of quinine became
practically exhausted. Most of the
stock was held by a large retail drug.
gist, who sold all he had for double the
normal price.
Quinine is generally taken in two
grain capsules or in a powder with
water or whisky. The first way is peter.
able, as it does away with any disagree.
able taste.
The annual consumption of quinine in
the United States is about 5000, 600
grains, and the trade here and abroad is
almost entirely in the hands Of monop.
oily, whose great factory is located in
Mannheim Germany.-Chicago Times.