QUININE 145 



At Loxa, in Ecuador, grew some quinaquina trees, the bark 

 of which was said to possess marvellous powers of healing, 

 and the Governor of Loxa, hearing of the countess's illness, 

 sent a parcel of this bark to her. Its effect was magical ; the 

 fever left her. 



In 1640 she returned to Spain, bringing with her quantities 

 of quinaquina bark ; its virtues were quickly recognized iy 

 the Jesuits, and from them the knowledge of its usefulness 

 spread among Roman Catholics, especially in Spain and Italy, 

 but for a long time the Protestants and orthodox physicians 

 refused to have anything to do with it. However, in course 

 of time this prejudice was overcome, and there arose a great 

 and increasing demand for it. In 1679 Robert Talbot, an 

 English physician, cured Charles II of a fever by its use, and 

 from him Louis XIV purchased the secret. The price he 

 paid was 2,000 louis d'or (2,000), a large pension, and 

 a title. 



The Swedish botanist Linnaeus (1738-83) called the quina- 

 quina trees Chinchona trees, in honour of the countess who 

 introduced the bark into Europe. 



It was from the forest of Loxa that the bark was exported, 

 and the native collectors thought of nothing but their own 

 immediate profit, and paid no heed to the havoc they 

 wrought in making their collections, so that, wherever they 

 went, the trees were destroyed, and a desert was left behind 

 them. The bark in consequence grew rarer, and the price 

 increased. In England it cost 105. an ounce, and in India, 

 where its need was most urgent, 20s. 



It was to remedy this state of things that in 1860 

 Sir Clements Markham set out to Peru, with the object of 

 collecting Chinchona plants and seeds, and establishing 

 plantations in India. It was an extremely difficult enterprise. 

 All along the eastern slopes of the Andes from 20 S. to 

 10 N. (i.e. from the south of Bolivia to the north of Ecuador) 

 are sub-tropical forests, and in these forests grew the Chin- 

 chona trees. There are many varieties, but they all need 



2203 v 



