TRAVELS IN PERU. 



CHAPTEK I. 



DISCOVERY OF PERIA^IAN BAEK. 



Tlie Countess of Chiiiclion — Inh'oduction of the use of bark into Europe — 

 ]M. La Condamine's fii-st description of a Chinch ona-tree — J. de Jussieu — 

 Description of the Cliinchona region — The different valuable species — The 

 discoveiy of quinine. 



The whole world, and especially all troi)ical countries where 

 intermittent fevers prevail, have long been indebted to the 

 momitainous forests of the Andes for that inestimable febrifuge 

 which has now become indispensable, and the demand for 

 which is rapidly increasing, while the supply decreases, 

 throughout all civilized countries. There is probably no drug 

 which is more valuable to man than the febrifugal alkaloid 

 which is extracted from the chinchona-trees of South 

 America; and few greater blessings could be conferred on 

 the human race than the naturalization of these trees in 

 India, and other congenial regions, so as to render the supply 

 moi'e certain, cheaper, and more abundant. 



It will be the principal object of the following pages to 

 relate the measures which have been adopted within the 

 last two years to collect plants and seeds of these quinine- 

 yielding chinchoufB, in the various regions of South America, 

 where the most valuable species are found ; and to give an 

 account of then- introduction into India, and of the hill 

 districts in that coimtry where it is considered most likely 

 that they will thrive. But it is necessary that the reader 

 should have a general knowledge of these precious trees, 

 and of their history, before he accompanies the explorers 



B 



