192 | _RUBIACE. 
Manufacture of Alkaloids and Quinine.—The authorities in 
charge of the Cinchona plantations have for many years seen 
the desirability of extracting in the country the alkaloids so 
valuable in fevers and ina form that could readily be taken. 
At the suggestion of Dr J. E. de Vrij, the manufacture of a 
light-coloured powder, consisting of the alkaloids of red bark, 
was started in 1874. This powder was called “ quinetum” or 
“febrifuge,” or, with reference to the locality of its produc- 
tion, Sikkim or Darjeeling febrifuge- Febrifuge is made by 
exhausting the powdered red bark with water acidulated with 
hydrochloric acid, precipitating the liquor with caustic soda, 
and drying the crude deposit. This is again dissolved in suffi- 
cient acid, reprecipitated by soda in a pure condition, filtered, 
dried and powdered. It has a tolerably uniform composition 
of Quinine 15:5; Cinchonidine 29:0; Cinchonine 33:5 ; Amor- 
phous alkaloids 17-0 ; and colouring matter, &c., 5:0 per cent. 
About three years ago, Mr. J. A. Gammie, the resident 
Superintendent, with the co-operation of Mr. C. H. Wood, 
formerly Quinologist to the Bengal Government, elaborated 
a method of extracting quinine from yellow bark, called the 
“oil process.” - It is called the oil process, because a mixture 
of fusel and kerosene oils is employed in the manufacture. ‘Tho 
finely-powdered bark is mixed with water containing caustic 
soda in solution, the oils are added, and the whole is 
intimately agitated for a few hours and then allowed to rest. 
_ The alkaloids are then contained in the oil, which is decanted, 
and stirred up with water acidulated with sulphuric acid. 
The acid liquor now containing the alkaloids is transferred 
to pans and heated by steam; while still hot, the liquor is 
neutralized with soda and filtered, and on cooling, the solution 
yields the crystals of sulphate of quinine. The crude crystals 
are purified by dissolving them in a certain amount of hot 
water, filtering and cooling, and the crystals which form re 
collected and dried in a warm air-chamber, 
Commerce.—Indian Cinchona bark began to be exported in 
1867 ; the first three bal lized Rs, 287,and sold in London for 
2 shillings per lb. From 1871 to 1886, when the export ceased, 
