Dr. Hancock on Quinine. 315 



Mr. Brande, in the " Manual of Pharmacy," even recom- 

 mends the sulphate of quinine to be taken with diluted sulphuric 

 acid, 15 minims, (nearly 20 drops to the dose,) with each grain or 

 two of quinine. He observes as follows : — " Sulphate of quinine 

 has been exhibited in doses of from 1 to 5 grs., three or four 

 times a day, though 8 grs. are thought by some to be equiva- 

 lent to an ounce of bark. It appears to me most prudent to 

 begin with small doses ; and, if they answer the intended pur- 

 pose, not to increase them ; if not, they may be augmented till 

 the disease feels the influence of the remedy ; but in large doses 

 this salt will be found to nauseate, to create weight and pain 

 in the stomach, attended by thirst, a white tongue, a quickened 

 and hardened pulse *, symptoms which of course should be 

 watched." This does not well correspond with the characters of 

 the bark as an antispasmodic. Our author continues — " It has 

 appeared to me to agree best when administered with dilute 

 sulphuric acid, provided this plan is not otherwise contra-indi- 

 cated. The following formula may therefore be adopted : — 

 R Quinae Sulphatis 9j ; 



Conservae Rosse, q. s. ut fiat pilulae xx. 

 quarum sumatur una vel duae ter die cum hausta sequenti. 

 R Decoct. Cinchonae 5j, Acid Sulph. dilut. minims xv. 

 Syrup. Aurant. 3j misce." — p. 63. 



Here we observe, that the acid is ordered to be added to the 

 decoction already prepared, merely as a useful adjunct, and not 

 with a view to evolve the quinine in the decoction, which could 

 be done, only by putting them together at first, or digesting the 

 acid upon the bark prior to straining. From this recipe, how- 

 ever, of Mr. Brande, we derive a strong testimony in support 

 of the propriety and advantage of the method hereafter pro- 

 posed ; for if, as stated by this distinguished professor, the 

 acid is to be deemed the best addition to the bark from its own 

 intrinsic value, how much more estimable and important should 

 it be considered, when applied in such manner as to elicit and 

 bring into action that latent principle, the quinia, in which the 

 chief energy of the bark, as a febrifuge, is supposed to reside ! 



* Its action will, doubtless, be somewhat varied in different constitu- 

 tions. I have recently been told by a friend of mine, Mr. Edward Dawson, 

 who has tried the quinine, both here and in Demarara, that its use has, 

 with him, been invariably attended by headache and dizziness. 



OCT.— dec 1829. Y 



