106 On the use of Peruvian Barfc, 



The above-named Physician, as well as the one who 

 practised at Barreos, Dr. Joaquin de Bobadilla, to whose 

 zeal and exactness we are indebted for a great part of 

 the important observations in this Dissertation, were 

 both careful to clear the stomach and intestines by a 

 Blight vomit, before they commenced the use of the spe- 

 cific, or added v. g. two drams of cream of tartar, or ca- 

 thartic salt, to the first dose of bark, to the second, and 

 even to the third, if necessary, or even causing them to 

 vomit, by means of warm water, without medicine ; but 

 females and others, who undertook their own cure clan- 

 destinely, as soon as they knew the singular efficacy of 

 this remedy, learnt (as they say themselves) the impor- 

 tance of not losing an instant of time, by these, or other 

 usually preparatory steps ; they found that cures were 

 equally performed without as with them, that it was neces- 

 sarv to be careful with the vomits, because much time was 

 lost by them, and they left the stomach so irritable, that 

 they could not so well retain the bark. In short, (says La- 

 fuente), when the more sensible part of this village was 

 satisfied of its efficacy, an emulation was excited 

 amongst those who were attacked, who could take the 

 most bark within the forty-eight hours, and at the earli- 

 est period of them. 



The greater part of the sick, therefore, had neither 

 vomit, purgative, nor other receipt than a packet of half 

 a pound or more bark in powder (and even this not di- 

 vided into doses), and the moment they felt the first 

 chill, they began rapidly to take the bark, without sleep 

 or remission, night and day, every two hours, a large 

 spoonful at a time, sometimes equal to an ounce, some- 



