70 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



Canizares sent the bark to Juan de Vega, the physi- 

 cian treating the Countess of Chinchon, wife of the 

 Viceroy of Peru. 



On her recovery, the Countess sent the bark to 

 Europe. 



This leads to the question of the European history 

 of cinchona, and name of the drug. 



THE EUROPEAN NAME. CINCHONA or CHIN- 

 CHONA. Peru was invaded and subjugated by the 

 Spaniards in 1513. Enormous riches were obtained 

 by them, but the knowledge of cinchona, most precious 

 of all the gifts of Peru, lay dormant for more than one 

 hundred years. 



In 1628 the fourth Count of Chinchon was appointed 

 Viceroy of Peru, and with his wife reached Lima in 

 1629. In 1638 the Countess was stricken with tertian 

 fever, then a very prevalent and a very perplexing 

 ailment, so far as treatment was concerned. Her 

 physician, Dr. Juan de Vega, received from the Cor- 

 regidor of Loxa a "new remedy," the bark of a native 

 tree, which he proceeded to administer to the Countess, 

 who recovered. On her return to Spain, in 1640, the 

 Countess brought with her supplies of the bark. This 

 was used among the sick of her home locality, and be- 

 came celebrated as a specific for fever and ague under 

 the name "The Countess' Powder." "By this name it 

 was long known to druggists, and in commerce." 

 (Markham). Her Peruvian physician, Dr. Juan de 

 Vega, followed her to Spain, bringing large supplies 

 of the bark, which he sold at 100 reals a pound. The 

 name of the Countess of Chinchon was thus indelibly 

 linked with this great discovery. Linnaeus, in recog- 

 nition, attempted to honor her by naming after her 



