CINCHONA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 117 



natural order Cinclionacese. It consists of a number of species of 

 trees seldom exceeding 40 to 50 feet in height. The leaves are 

 opposite, simple, entire, stipuled at the base; flowers small, in 

 cymose panicles ; seeds numerous, small, winged. The plants 

 are natives of the Andean regions of Peru, Bolivia, and New 

 Grenada. This genus has come into considerable repute conse- 

 quent on many of its species yielding the important medicine 

 called Quinine — the most powerful agent in the cure of 

 fevers. It is obtained from the bark of the trees in greater or 

 less quantity in different species, the healing powers of which 

 were early known to the Spanish Jesuits ; and the Countess 

 de Chinchon, lady of the Viceroy of Peru, having been cured of 

 fever by it, led it to become know^n in Spain in 1638 under the 

 name of Jesuits' Bark, and for many years the ground bark 

 and port wine was a favourite medicine. This, however, in pro- 

 cess of time gave way to the active principles of the bark being 

 prepared in the form of alkaloids, the most valuable of which is 

 called Quinine; it is a bitter, white crystalline powder. From 

 the bark, by chemical manipulation, certain other alkaloids are 

 obtained, known as Cinchonine, Cinchonidine, Quinidine, etc. 

 The great demand for quinine, and its high price, led to a great 

 increase in the bark trade of South America, and, in order to 

 obtain it readily, bark collectors made no scruple in cutting 

 down the trees, and, as the respective Governments took no steps 

 to prevent this or to make fresh plantations, it was feared that 

 in time the valuable medicine would be entirely lost. In 1839 

 the late Dr. Eoyle suggested that it would be advisable to in- 

 troduce the trees yielding quinine into India. This suggestion 

 lay in abeyance for at least twenty years. In 1852 it cost the 

 Indian Government £7000 for quinine, and in 1857 £12,000; 

 this, and the fear of the plants becoming extinct, led the Indian 

 Board at once to make arrangements to attempt the introduc- 

 tion of Cinchona trees mto India, and in 1859 the Secretary of 

 State for India appointed Mr. Clements Markham of the India 

 Office to superintend all the necessary arrangements for the 

 above purpose. Accordingly, two expeditions were arranged — 



