Observations and Experiments on Peruvian Bark. 34 
portions. This bark when first received, was of a very deep 
and bright color, and particularly the powder produced by 
the flat pieces ; after being exposed however, in a dry place 
for about six months, it faded considerably, insomuch that any 
one not in possession of the proof of the fact, would have 
doubted, whether the powder had been produced from the 
same bark, 
rom experiments on the above bark, I procured twenty 
per cent less cinchonine and quinine, taken together, than the 
amount of quinine produced by the same quantity of calisaya 
arrollenda bark ; and the proportion of cinchonine, was rath- 
er more than half of the product of quinine. : 
_ It will appear therefore, from what has been said, that 
notwithstanding the great prejudices, both of eminent au- 
thors and skilful practitioners, which have so long existed 
in favor of. superiority of the oblongifolia, (red bark,) 
over other species ; that it is decidedly inferior to the calis- 
aya, (yellow bark,) as the whole product, as before stated, 
of its active principles, does not equal that of the calisaya 
and cinchonine, constituting rather mere than half the pro- 
duct, which, according to an eminent author, is five times 
less active than the quinine; this point however, I think is 
very far from being settled. An interesting paper was read 
before the Academy of Medicine, at Paris, which is published 
in the Bulletin des Sciences Medicales, for November, 1825, 
in which M. Bally states that he has experimented upon 
the sulphate of cinchonine, with a view to determine its feb- 
rifuge qualities. He administered this sulphate in twenty 
seven cases of intermittent fevers, of different types, in doses 
of two grain pills, giving three or four in the interval of par- 
