The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-04-30
THE VALUABLE QUININE,
A DRUG USED FOR NEARLY ALL
HUMAN AILMENTS.
&c is Obtained From the Cinchona
Bark~-Where the Trees are Grown
How 1t is Marketed.

Ie is Obtained From the Cinchona
Bark--Where the Trees are Grown
How 1t is Marketed.
OF the thousands who say quinime is
"good for everything" few men are
aware that its introduction into the phar-
macopmia is of comparatively recent
date. Quinino is one of the most com
mon of homeopathic drugs and is used
for all ailments. II is an alkaloid OBJ.
tained from the cinchona bark, whose
wonderful properties as n tonic became
know about 1887. At that time the
Countess of Cinchon, Vice.Queen of
Peru, was very i'll with a lingering fever,
and the best medical men of South
America were in attendance and had al
most despaired of the Countesss recov-
cry. One day washerwoman appeared
at the palace and gave the Countess's
maid a bark which she directed to be
given to her mistress. The Countess raj
lied and in a short time recovered. The
strange bark was then called cinchona
bark, whose praises the Vicc-Queen was
always singing.
QHfninc came into general use in Europe
about the close of the seventeenth cen
tury, and for about 100 years the Eu-
ropeans were dependent upon few
South American States for their supply,
which was very meager, rs Peru, Bolivia
and Ecuador, which were the chief pro-
ducers, were continually wrangling with
each other. Their squabbles prevented
the natives gathering cinchona bark, and
often in a few weeks the price of quinlne
would fluctuate several dollars a pound,
These petty States monopolized the trade
in the severest manner, and the poor
bark -gatherers were compelled TO sell
their stuff for whatever the Government
choose to give, and at present the South
American States levy a 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 eX-
perimenting, TO succeed in breaking the
South American monopoly. They found
that the tree would grow in the East In
dies. The English Government, jealous
of their rivals success, sent out numcr-
Gus expeditions to investigate the whole
subject and see whether or not the trees
could be transplanted, and this was sue
cessfully done after many trials in north
ern India.
Although the trees fourished where
they had been transplanted the Dutch en-
countered other obstacles. 1t was found
that the bark of the same species of trees
was of very irregular quality, and al
though it all looked alike it often re-
quired 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 the weather
After it is stripped from the tree it has
to be thoroughly dried and then packed
in ceroons of moistened cowhide or in
bales of heavy sacking. Most of these
are branded with trademarks. Some of
these have attained considerable reputa-
ton, and any bark in the bales so named
can be relied upon. 1t is claimed that
there is great deal of trickery used in
the trade, as inferior or worthless barks
are sometimes skillfully mixed with good
barlss, and the difference is so slight that
all the imports are analysed before they
are accepted.
During the prevalence of la grippe in
some cities the supply of quinine became
practically exhausted.
Quinine is generally taken in two-grain
capsules or in a powder with water or
whisky. The first way is preferable, as
it does away with any disagreeable taste.
The annual consumption of quinine in
the United States is about $4,000, 900
grains, and the trade here and abroad is
almost entirely in the hands of a mo-
nopoly, whose great factory is located in
Mannheim. Germany.-Chjcaco Times.