Dr. Hancock on the Angnstura Bark Tree. 27 



I, at first, conceived that fermentation might injure the re- 

 ined v, but had subsequently every reason to suppose, that the 

 evolution of the carbonic acid rendered the remedy more ener- 

 getic, and more grateful to the palate and the stomach. Besides 

 this, the acetic acid and small portion of Alcohol generated in 

 the fermentation would contribute to extricate more completely 

 the active element of the Bark, thus improving the remedy by 

 augmenting the solvent powers of the menstruum. 



It was not long before I perceived the eflicacy of the fer- 

 mented infusion in dropsy, for many of the fever patients won 

 hydropic, and it was found that their swellings rapidly dimi- 

 nished on the use of the infusion. This naturally induced me 

 to give the same remedy as a tonic to those patients who were 

 simply dropsical or without fever. Its power in those proved 

 more striking and decided than any thing I ever witnessed 

 before in medicine. No regular account of these, however, was 

 kept, as it was administered to a great number of patients in 

 and out of the hospital. 



In the more severe cases of dysentery, the Dover's Powder 

 was given with each draught of the infusion, in doses of from 

 five to ten grains, three or four times a day. 



We had thus no reason to regret the exchange we had from 

 necessity made, for the Angustura Bark was found to be greatly 

 sii|»< rinr to the Peruvian Bark. Though some patients wero 

 averse to it at first, they soon requested to have it, when they 

 their companions in sickness recovering so fast under its 

 u^-. | afterwards reel -iv< d a supply of Cinchona from Trinidad, 

 but made no use of it. 



I have also witnessed the best e Heels from this remedy sinco 

 my return to Demerara, although 1 could at that time seldom 

 procure it in a fresh state, owing (o the long cessation of in- 

 tercourse with the Orinoko. 



The Capuchin Friars of Carony had been in the habit of 

 preparing an K\tra< t from this Mark, from the sale of which 

 I ;:i'.it pecuniary advantages, but from the iriali I 



