324 Dr. Hancock on Quinine. 



the infusion is strained, (as the virtues of the ingredients 

 are not yet exhausted,) another pint of boiling water may be 

 added and digested upon the dregs. This second infusion 

 may be taken with more freedom. 



We thus have a preparation to be depended on, as con- 

 taining all the active properties of the bark, even its aromatic 

 parts, in a form almost as pleasant, and as easily swallowed 

 as a glass of beer. That the preparation here offered must 

 contain all the energetic properties of the bark, is fully evident, 

 if the sulphuric acid does really dissolve and develop from the 

 bark an alkaline base, or febrifuge element, as cinchonine and 

 quinine ; and of this no doubt can be entertained, as otherwise 

 all that has been said of such elements must be nought but 

 sheer pretence and quackery *, 



* This paper is composed from notes, written at various times, but 

 chiefly in the year 1827. Since which, I have employed the compound 

 infusion of cinchona, in numerous cases, with the most decided success, 

 in my own family and that of others, both in Demerara and since our 

 residence in England ; and having tried it under many variations of the 

 formula, 1 give the decided preference to the foregoing prescription. 



The infusion of the bark, with a small portion of acid and alcohol, 

 prepared in this way, is found to possess all the flavour and odour 

 of the bark in powder, and I doubt not it contains its entire medicinal 

 properties ; and by an operation sufficiently simple, — free from the 

 absurd processes so justly deprecated by Dr. Paris, in the preceding 

 quotations ; and not only are the entire virtues of the bark thus evolved, 

 but they are much enhanced when the additional articles are employed, 

 as the bueyari or quassia, ginger and orange peel, as well as the acid. 

 If desired to diminish the bulk, and render the compound more portable, 

 when required for carriage especially, it is only requisite to increase 

 the quantity of spirit, and diminish that of the water — in short, to em- 

 ploy proof spirit or a weaker menstruum, at the option of the prac- 

 titioner. 



It is to be considered, that spirituous menstrua will take up a larger 

 portion of the active elements than an aqueous one can do. Upon the 

 foregoing principles, therefore, we shall be enabled to form a very con- 

 centrated tincture of this sort, to the exclusion of some inert vegetable 

 mucilage, which a more watery menstruum must hold in solution. If 

 proof spirit be employed, the menstruum need not exceed the proportion 

 of £ the quantity of the infusion above stated, using all the same ingre- 

 dients and their quantities as above. It may be digested with a little 

 heat in a bottle lightly corked. 



A very small portion of acid is required to neutralize the alkaline principles 

 of the bark. See " Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal," vol. xviii., 

 p. 152, and table 155, where it is stated that cinchona combines with 

 sulphuric acid, in the proportion of 100 parts to about 13 of acid, and 

 kina with 11 parts of acid ; on an average of the two, about 100 of the 

 base, or alkali, to 12 of acid. It 



