28 Observations and Experiments on Peruvian Bark. 
Arr. HiL.-— Observations and Experiments on Peruvia 
_ Bark; by Georer W. Carrenter, of Philadelphia. 
Tue cinchona, or as it is more generally denominated, Pe- 
ruvian Bark, is the product of several species of the genus 
Cinchona, which in botanical arrangement, belongs to the 
class Pentandria, order Monogynia, and to the natural or- 
der Contorta. 
he descriptions of the species of this genus, from the 
limited and imperfect nature of the information possessed, 
have been a so confused and indefinite, as to convey 
little or no informat 
Cinchona is found | in various parts of South America, al- 
ah inhabiting mountainous tracts, where it grows from a 
w inches in diameter to the thickness of a man’s body. 
The bark is collected in the dry season, say from September 
till aE and ater being well dried in the sun , is pack- 
in skins, forming an is wes se chat y weighing 
together on their arrival at our markets. The tree has never 
yet been cultivated by the Spaniards, who procure it by strip- 
ping the natural trees of their bark, which ultimately must 
destroy the genus, as they always die after the operation. 
Most of the varieties of cinchona being highly valuable, and 
consequently very liable to be adulterated with various sub- 
stances, it is therefore sa Adega to adhere to a critical ex- 
amination of all its characters. 
‘he accounts of the + inlets of cinchona are very nu 
merous, ane many fone their easly and itmprobability, 
try. ‘tn tall has freque ntly called us to ride, in ag aoe of the night, 
in every season of the xh and in every kind of weather we have never 
seen eer, = of the kind. ave we ever seen a ei star ina 
dark and clou 3 consequen ese meteors must usually be in a more 
y; 
elevated ee of the atmosphere than the clouds; or they are decom 
by the clouds; or they are not formed in cloudy weather. We will conclude 
' stating, that i in all our riding in the night, during a long course of years, we 
have nev ing like “5 ignis fatuus ; nor have we a mF 
orescent appearance, which is sai sometimes 
upon fences, the arms of soldiers, and pi te slender — bodies ; though ¢ he 
latter seems to be a well attested fact.—Translat 
