Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-03-02
Some Facts About Qu,nine.

1t is estimated that during and since
the war with Spain over l25,0O0,0OC
grains of quinine have been issued tC
American soldiers suffering with fever
In some eases men who were In the
hospitals were dosed with as much as
800 grains per week. and almost every
man in the army took the drug al
some period of his service, either fol-
its curative or preventive effect. Yet
as large as the figures are, they are
hardly as surprising as those for the
entire population of the United States
We are a race Of quinine eaters, and
the people Ofthis country consume one
third of the quinine of the world. Al
though such doses as prevailed In
Cuba and Porto Rico are seldom taken
in the States, there are few people here
who do not at some time during the
year take quinine in some form or
other. The drug is used in the pre-
paration of many patent medicines,
tonics, bitters, cold cures, etc; even
in hair tonic for external application,
The official figures Of the Treasury De-
partment show that last year there
were imported into the United States
$780, ,O56, $50 grains ofquinine. This
means a consumption OF something like
90 grains for every man, woman or
child, as there were practically no ex-
ports of this article.
The cinchona tree, which furnishes
quinins, Peruvian bark, calisaya bark,
is a native Of the western South Amer
lean coast countries, more particularly
Peru; yet but comparatively small
portion of the worlds product now
comes from that region. For many
years all the quinine of commerce
came from the wild trees of Peru, but
with the present great demand, the
refined product obtained from the
wild trees of its native habitat would
supply but small proportion OF the
world requirements. At the present
time two-thirds ofth quinine used is
produced in Java, an island Of the
East Indian archipelago, correspond
ing closely in size to Cuba, and having
with it many features of soil and cll-
mate in common. The history Of Gin
chona culture in Java Is interesting.
For thirty years the Dutch govern
ment which owns Java, was urged TO
undertake in the island the introduc-
tion of this plant from Peru, and final
ly in 1852 it employed the botanlst
Hasshari to explore the cinchona for
ests Of Peru. He procured large
number Of varieties and took them to
Java, where plantations were started,
which have succeeded to the extent al
ready indicated. The government Of
India was not to be behind in this
matter, and the cinchona plantations
and factories of that region produce
now their share of this important drug.
The Importance Of sending trained
explorers to find and import new and
rare plants is shown in the early ef-
forts Of the Indian government to Sc
cure cinchona trees. Seven years Of
governmental correspondence failed to
secure single living plant Of this
species, when the government engaged
Clement r. Markham to visit the
mountains of Peru, at the risk Of his
life, and he succeeded in establishing
in the British East Indies in single
year 9,732 clnchoha trees.
The price Of quInine has Of late years
steadily decreased, SO that now it is
considered cheap drug; in 1897 the
imported price in the United States
was little ever l6 cents per ounce.
When it is considered that an ounce
avoirdupois contains 497s grains, it is
seen that the quinine in dozen two
grain capsules does not cost much.
The total value Of refined quirine and
cinchona bark imported into the Uni'
ted States last year was $725, ISL