The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-03
CONSUMPTION OF QUININE.
More Than las, ZOO. 700 Grains Used by
the Army In the Past Year.

| Washington, April 29.-The statemen,
is made that during the past year OF
thereabouts more than 1875, 200, 600 grains
Of quinine have Teen consumed by Amer.
can soldiers suffering from various types
OF Southern fevers. In some instances
men who were in the hospitals in Cuba
and Porto Rico were dosed regularly with
300 grains u week, and hardly a man
failed to take he.drug during some peri
cd of his service, either as a curative OF
preventive.
Large as this consumption was, 1t is
not SO surprising as the known consump-
ton of the drug by the entire population
of the United States. Americans ara a
race of quinine eaters and the people of
this country consume one-third of the
quinine of the world. Although such
doses as were administered In Cuba, Por-
to Rico and the Philippines are seldom
If ever given in the States, there are few
people who do not, at some time or other
during each year, take quinine in some
form. The drug is used In the prepare
tion OF many patent medicines, TONES,
bitters, cold cures, etc. and is dissolved
In rum or spirits for external use as
hair tonic.
The official figures of the Treasury Blu
reau Of Statistics show that there were
imported last year into the United States,
l, $50, 056, 750 grains of quinine. As there
were practically no exports of ths.artiole,
this means something like twenty grains
for every man, woman and child in the
country.
Quinine, Peruvian bark and calisaya |
bark are all the products of the oinchona |
tree, which Is a native of western South |
America, more particularly Peru and |
Ecuador. Only 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 at the present |
time two. thirds of the quinine used Is
produced in Java. which corresponds |
closely in size to Cuba, and has many |
features of soil and climate in common |
with 1t. The quinine which comes from |
Java is all produced from cultivated |
trees, and the history and success of this |
culture are interesting.
For thirty years the Dutch government,
which owns Java, was urged to under
take in that island the Introduction of |
this plant from Peru, and finally, in |
1859, 1T employed the totanist Hassharl
20 explore the cinohona forests of Peru
He procured u large mum Der of specimens
# different varieties and took them to
Java, whore they were planted, and the
culture OF the crop has been successful |
20 the extent indicated. The English
government was not far behind in this
natter, and inc plantations and factories
VI India now produce, as result, large
quantities of ouinine. The Importance OF
snding trained explorers to find and in-
.ort rare or new plants Is shown in the
'arly efforts of the indian government to
eoure cinchona trees. Seven years of
'fhcial correspondence failed to secure q
Jingle living specimen of this species.
Then the government engaged Clement
3. Markham TO visit the mountains Of
Peru, at the risk of his life, and he suc-
eeded In tablishing In the British Eess
indies IN one year 9, 732 cinchona trees.
The price OF quinine has Of late years
taadily decreased, SO that now 1t is CON-
idered cheap drug. In 1857 the average
IMPORT price In the United States was