XVIII. 
CINCHONA OFFICINALIS. 
Peruvian Bark. 
SynonyMs.—Cinchona corona. Cinchona cinerea. Cinchona flaya. Cinchona 
cordifolla. Cinchona lancifolia. Cinchona rubra. Cinchona oblongifolia. 
Forrten Names.—Fr.: Quinquina. Jtal.: China-china. Span. and Port.: 
Guina. Germ.: China. Dut.: China wast. Swed.: Kina bark, Kinkina bark. 
Dan, : Kina, Kina bark. Russ.: Chinaia korka, 
Nat. Order, Rustackm.—PENTANDRIA, MonoGynta. 
Gen. Coar.—Calyz five-toothed. Corolla hypocrateriform, with a five- 
parted limb, valvate in estivation. -Anthers linear, inserted within the 
tube, and not projecting, except in avery slight degree. Capsule splitting 
. through the dissepiments into two cocci, open at the commissure, and 
crowned by the calyx. Seeds girted by a membranous lacerated wing 
(Lindley). 
History.—The history of the discovery of Cinchona is not ac- 
curately known. It was first introduced into Europe as a medi- 
cine about the middle of the seventeenth century by the Jesuits 
at Rome, who received it from their brethren in Peru; hence 
it was called Jesuits’ bark, Pulvis patrum, Pulvis Cardinalis de 
Lugo. Its medicinal effects were certainly unknown to the natives 
of South America, although many fabulous stories have been 
handed down to us as to the first mode by which its virtues as a 
febrifuge were discovered. For example, Condamini relates that 
the lions of South America, suffering from ague, were cured by 
eating the bark of a certain tree. Geoffroy gives an account of 
Indians affected with this malady being cured by drinking at a 
