various Species of Cinchom, 39 



§ III. 



Treatment of different Species of Cinchona hj fjliter; 



Manner in which their Maceration and their Decoction 



act upon the Re-agents. 



I have compared, by physical and chemical properties, 

 intiisions of all the species of cinchona known in commerce, 

 to which I joined the examination of some other vegetable 

 substances which appeared to be analogous to cinchona, and 

 which have been also resorted to in the treatment of fevers. 



The infusions were prepared with the same quantities of 

 water, the same quantities of bark at an equal temperature 

 and during equal times; so that the differences we shall ob- 

 serve could not proceed from the mode of preparation. 



First Species. — Yellow Cinchona*. 



1. 122 grammes (4 ounces) of this cinchona, infused foj 

 24 hours in two litres of water at 12° (fiO" Fahr.), commu- 

 nicated a yellow colour to the water, a very bitter and slightly 

 astringent taste. 



2. This infusion formed a very abundant flaky white pre- 

 cipitate in a solution of isinglass. 



3. It gave to a solution of sulphate of iron a green bile 

 colour, and formed in it, some time afterwards, a precipitate 

 of the same shade. 



4. It precipitated, in yellowish white, the solution of tar- 

 tarite of antimoniated potash. 



5. The oxalate of ammonia produced a precipitate in it, 

 which was oxalate of lime. 



6. Lastly, this infusion reddened very sensibly the tinc- 

 ture of turnsole. 



The infusion of cinchona of which I am now speaking, 

 completely precipitated l)y the soluliou of glue and filtered, 

 has no longer any colour, and hardly any astringency ; but 



• It was brouj^ht to Spain ia 178S, where, having been employed for the 

 royal family, it got the ir.ime of royal cinchona. Acconliiig to M. Visrriirnl) 

 it came from Moioi, in the snuth part of America, and is nairieil by llic Spa- 

 oiards lali aija. 'I'Kcy prefer it to ihe )^ray cinchona of I'erii ; it i> y( llowikU 

 bruvvik, fibrous, Urj;e, flat, acd cuiiy reduced \nisi tjnv {)ow«kT. 

 C4 



