212 REPORT ON THE CHINCHONA SUCCIRUBRA. 
warty, and the colour more of a tea-green than is usual in the bark as 
it is imported from South America, but, as it is not cut there at so 
early a stage of growth, it is difficult to form an accurate comparison 
in this respect. The taste is that of “red bark,” being compounded 
of the bitter of the alkaloids and the more nauseous taste of kinovic 
acid. The powder resembles that of good Peruvian bark. 
In order to make the best analysis of the small quantity of bark at 
my command, I commenced with five hundred grains of that of the 
second year's growth, and was able to obtain therefrom a first and se- 
cond crystallization of white sulphate of Quinine. By thus specifying 
the whiteness, I mean to imply that the bark had not the commercial ; 
disadvantage which frequently attends the “red bark” at a more ma- 
ture stage of growth, resulting from the fact that the colouring matter 
has in these last become so much implicated with the alkaloids as to 
make the task of purification a difficult one. The crystallizations I 
obtained were mixed with some sulphate of Chinchonidine, which is 
commercially (but not medicinally) a disadvantage, and one which 
always attends the products of “ red bark.” I also obtained Chincho- 
nine, and other usual products of the process as from South American 
bark, viz. kinovie acid, kinate of lime, gum, chinchona red, ete. e 
product of alkaloid in a rough state was estimated at 4:30 per cent. 
A second trial of the same quantity enabled me to decide more accu- 
rately the percentage product in purified alkaloids, I found the total 
contents 3:30 to 3°40 per cent., and of this (soluble in ether) Quinine 
and some Chinchonidine 2°40 per cent., leaving *60 per cent. of Chin- 
chonine, which crystallized freely, and also ‘30 or “40 loss chiefly in 
water of the hydrated alkaloids.. This result must be considered ex- 
tremely favourable. 
I have noticed the product of some fine quills of South American 
red bark as 3:60 per cent.,* the larger bark of the same parcel pro- 
ducing 3°91 of alkaloid. Dr. Riegel obtained from one ounce red bark, 
of best quality, 4°16 per cent. by Rabourdin’s process, or 3°90 by that 
of Buchner. Of this, 2-65 per cent., soluble in ether, was reckoned | 
as Quinine, and the rest was set down as Chinchonine.t I have ob- 
tained a much higher percentage of alkaloid from large and peculiarly 
fine “red bark," but I see no reason to doubt that even this higher per- - 
* ' Illustrations of Nueva Quinologia,’ under head “ C, succirubra,” p. 15. 
+ Pharm. Centralblatt, for July, 1852. 
