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CINCHONA OFFICINALIS, Linn. 



Cinchona, Crown Bark. 



Native of the Andes of tropical S. America. A tree, often only a 

 shrub, with opposite, simple leaves, rose-coloured, sweet-scented flowers, 

 and small, winged seeds. (Rubiaeece.) 



Bark of root and stem contains four principal alkaloids, quinine, 

 quinidine, cinchonine, and cinchonidine. There are also acids and 

 other substances. 



" The Cinchona barks possess powerful antiperiodic, tonic, antiseptic, 

 and astringent properties. The three tirst qualities are especially due 

 to their alkaloids ; and the latter to cincho-tannic acid and cinchona- 

 red. The essential difference, therefore, between the action of the 

 alkaloids and their salts, and of Cinchona barks, rests in the astrin- 

 gency of the latter. The alkaloids cannot therefore, in all cases, be 

 >ubstituted for the barks, for it is a well-ascertained fact, that there are 

 cases which can be successfully treated by the preparation of the barks, 

 when the salts of the alkaloids have failed to afford relief. This differ- 

 ence of effect is doubtless due in some instances to the astringent pro- 

 perties of the barks ; but also in others, to causes not yet explained. 

 Again, although the barks are applicable in all cases when the alkaloids 

 have been found useful, they are apt when administered in large doses, 

 to produce severe irritation of the stomach and bowels, and thus to 

 cause nausea, or even vomiting and purging ; they are also liable to 

 cause constipation by their astringency. Hence, as antiperiodics, and 

 in other cases, where large doses of the preparations of the barks are 

 required to produce the desired effects, the salts of quinia, or of the 

 other alkaloids, are, as a general rule, much better adapted for use. As 

 tonics, the barks in small doses, are extensively employed in cases of 

 debility, more especially if this be caused or accompanied by profuse 

 discharges, as colliquative sweating or diarrhoea, or by other mucous or 

 purulent discharges, as leucorrhcea, abscesses, &c. Garrod says that, 

 'as a tonic, in cases of great debility with weak heart, bark is more 

 agreeable and beneficial than quinine' ; and also, that ' the astringent 

 property of bark renders it better fitted tor the treatment of relaxed 

 conditions of the habit than quinine.' The preparations of the bark 

 are also most useful after surgical operations when the strength has 

 been greatly reduced ; and in all cases of physical exhaustion, as in con- 

 valescence after either acute or lingering chronic diseases, unless there 

 be much irritability of the stomach or bowels, or bowels, or inflamma- 

 tion, or febrile symptoms, when their use is contra-indicated." (Bentley 

 & Trimen.) 



Mr. J. J. Bowrey, Island Chemist, has made preparations from the 

 bark grown in the island, both in the form of a dry powder, and a liquid. 

 These preparations, while combining all the properties of the bark, 

 obviate the necessity of the large doses. 



Other species are C. Calisaya, Wedd., and its variety Ledgeriana, C. 

 siu-cimbra, Pav. (Red or Druggists' Bark), and a hybrid of C. officinalis 

 and ('. succirubra. 



