ee ee a 
length: its epidermis is rough, and immediately under it a thick fpongy 
dark extraneous coat is obferved; the inner efficient part of the bark 
_ is of a lamellated texture, tough, and of a deep reddifh brown ;’ its 
tafte is aftringent and bitter, refembling the Peruvian bark, but, in 
the opinion of Murray, more bitter. 
- On the teftimony of Wright, Lind, and feveral other refpetable 
authorities, this bark has been found to anfwer the general purpofes 
of that,of the cinchona, and like it alfo the different fpecies of the 
tree agree in affording barks poflefling in common a certain fhare of 
febrifuge power, though in different degrees, and fomewhat variable 
in their fenfible qualities. Thus of the nine fpecies of cinchona, 
lately defcribed by Vahl, the febrifuge character pervades the whole, 
at leaft as far as experiments have been made:* and Mr. Roxburgh, 
botanift to the Haft India Company, has difcovered a new {pecies of 
Swietenia, or Mahogany, the bark of which promifes, from his 
account of it, to be a more efficacious medicine than that here 
defcribed. This new fpecies of mahogany is called by Mr. Rox- 
burgh Swietenia febrifuga ;* and from numerous experiments which 
he made from its bark, he draws the following conclufions : * 
1. “* The ative parts of the bark of Swietenia febrifuga are 
much more folubile than thofe of Peruvian bark, particularly in 
watery menftruums.” 
2. “ That it contains a much larger proportion of active (bitter 
and aftringent) powers than Peruvian bark.” 
» This defcription nearly agrees with that of Murray; but I have found the bark 
to vary confiderably in its appearance, and in its tafte. 
© Yellow Peruvian bark, the produce of a {pecies of cinchona, of which we find 
no botanical account, has been lately brought to London. I have ufed it at the 
Small-pox Hofpital with more advantage than I ever experienced from the beft common 
bark. Its intenfe bitternefs is the leading character in its fapidity. 
* This and feveral other Eaft India plants have been engraved at the expenfe of the 
Eaft India Company, but have not yet been publifhed; it differs from the common 
Mahogany, in having its flowers in large terminal compound pikes, and in its foliola 
being oblong, and very obtufe. 
* See “ a botanical defcription of a new fpecies of Swietenia, (Mahogany) with 
experiments and obfervations on the bark thereof, addrefled to the Honourable the 
Court of Directors of the United Eaft India Company, by William Roxburgh.” 
3 3 34 The 
