The sun., 1899-04-30
THE CONSUMPTION OF QUININE.
More Than 1875 200, 900 Grains Used by tho
Army in the Past Year.


WASHINGTON. April 2a.-The statement 10
made that during the past year or Whereabouts
more than 125 900. 900 grains OF ouinine have
been con suned by American soldiers suffer-
ing from various types OF Southern fevers. In
some instances men who were In the hos
pitfalls In Cuba and Porto Rico were dosed reg
ularly with 800 grains week. and hardly
man failed to take the drug during some
period OF his service. either as a curative or d
preventive.
Large AS this consumption was. 1t Is not so
surprising as the known consumption of the
drug by the entire population OF the United
States. Americans are race OF ouinine eat
ers and the people OF this country consume
one third OF tho quinine of the world. Al
though such doses as were administered in
Cuba Porto Rico and the Philippines are sell
dom 70 ever given In the States. there are few
people who do not. at some time or other dur
ing each year. take quinine In some form.
The drug Is used in the preparation OF many
patent medicines. tonics. bitters. cold cures.
&C. and is dissolved 10 rum or spirits for OK
ternal use as hair tonic.
The official figures OF the Treasury Bureau
ofStatistics show that there were imported last
year into the United States 3a.056. $50
grains OF quinine. AS there we're practically
no exports of the article. this means something
like twenty grains for every man. woman and
child in the country.
Qunine. Peruvian bark and calisaya bark
are all the products OF the cinchona tree.
which is a native Of western South America.
! moro particularly Peru and Ecuador. Only
comparatively small portion OF the worlds
| product now comes from that region. Fer
many years all the auinine OF commerc came
| from the wild trees OF Peru. but at the present
| time two-thrds Of the quinine used is pro-
| duced In Java. which corresponds closely in
| size to Cuba. and has many features Of soil
| and climate in common with it. The quinine
which comes from Java is all produced from
| cultivated trees. and the history and success
OF this culture are interesting.
For thirty wears the Dutch Government
which owns Java was urged to undertake In
| that island the introduction OF this plant from
| Peru. and finally. in 1852, IL employed the bota-
! mist Hassharl to explore the cinchona forests
| OF Peru. He procured a large number Of speci-
mems OF different varieties and took them to
Java. where they were planted. and the culture
! OF the crop has bean successful to the extent
| indicated. The English Government was not
| far behind in this matter, and the plantations
| and factories Of Indla'now produce. as a re-
suit. large quantities OF quinne The impor-
tance OF sending trained explorers TO find and
| import rare or new plants is shown in the early
efforts Of the Indian Government to secure
| cinchona trees Seven years Ct official corre-
| spondence failed to secure single living
| speclmen OF this srecies, Then the Govern
the mountains OF Peru. at the risk OF his life.
| and he succeeded In establishing In the Brit
ish East Indies in one year g. 732 cinchona trees.
The price o! Guinine has Vf late yeats stead