Dr. Hancock on Quinine. 311 



covery, (^oaleat quantum valere debet,) — less, however, for 

 procuring the virtues of the bark in a minute form, than for 

 promulgating a means of eliciting an active principle, most 

 easily available in aqueous fluids, which may be considered a very 

 important point f. Experience and reflection, however, have 

 abundantly taught me, that these properties are most extrava- 

 gantly exaggerated. 



I could adduce many instances in support of this fact, but I 

 shall allude only to one or two here. 



Mr. Chandler, of Essequibo, had fever whilst in George 

 Town (March, 1827). It continued for seven days. On the 

 intermission, (having been duly evacuated,) he began taking 

 quinine in the dose of 3 grs. every hour. The fever returned 

 with severity, after an intermission of about twelve hours, 

 when he had taken not less than 35 grs. of quinine. This 

 paroxysm lasted for six or eight hours. On the next intermis- 

 sion, he commenced the remedy, and took to the extent of 

 about 40 grs. The fever again returned, with little less violence 

 than before. Thus we may say he had one return after having 

 taken 35 grs., and another after having taken 70 grs. This 

 would cost, at the druggists in Demerara, about 24s., equal to 

 the expense of two pounds of the best bark, which would be 

 sufficient to arrest the progress of a dozen regular intermit- 

 tents ! But it should be observed, that a fever of the con- 

 tinued form, as in this case, seldom returns, although no bark 

 or other remedy should be employed as a preventive. 



A year ago I had a fever, in all respects similar to the case 

 here noticed : it continued seven or eight days. I took no 

 quinine or bark in any form ; and I had no return of fever. 

 Yet, Mr. Chandler, though a gentleman of sterling good sense, 

 attributed his recovery entirely to the quinine. This, however, 

 only shews how men of the soundest judgment are liable to be 

 imposed upon. 



A neighbour, Mr. M'Lean, entering the room at the time I 

 was making some notes on this affair, began relating to me his 

 own case. Before having heard my opinion, he said, that in 

 the fever he had lately passed through, he had tried the quinine 

 largely, but got no relief from it ; that he was ultimately obliged 

 to have recourse to the bark powder; that he had no re- 



