Drugs 



341 



The principal constituents of Cinchona bark are alkaloids, of which the chief are quinine, 

 cinchonidine, cinchonine, and quinidine. The value of a bark is estimated according to the 

 quantity of quinine present, the average amount varying from 30 per cent, to 5'0 per Cent, 

 in " Ledger " bark (C. Ledgeriana), from 3'0 per cent, to 40 per cent, in Calisaya bark (C 

 Calisaya). Quinine is chiefly used in the treatment of fevers, and as a tonic ; the barks 

 are too bulky for general use, except as bitter stomachics and tonics. The drug has a 

 well-known intensely bitter taste, but a form is now prepared which is tasteless. 



It would be difficult to over-estimate the value of quinine to the white man in guarding 

 against and withstanding the attacks of fever, especially malaria, in the tropics. As an 

 instance of its recognised value it may be mentioned that the Indian Government has ordered 

 that the drug, put up into small pice packets, shall be on sale at every post-office throughout 

 the country, so that the remedy may be within the reach of all, even the poorest. 



Cascara Sagrada. Cascara Sagrada ("sacred bark") is a valuable medicine used in 

 small doses as a tonic, and in larger quantities as an aperient and purgative. It is the bark 

 of Rhamnus Purshiana (a small tree closely allied to the English Buckthorn), which is found 

 in abundance in certain of the United States of America. The bark occurs in commerce 

 in the form of quills and flat portions, which are removed from the tree in the spring and 

 summer, especially after a spell of rainy weather. The inner - surf ace of the bark is of a 

 reddish-brown colour, while the outer surface is frequently covered with lichens. 



The chemistry of Cascara Sagrada is by no means well known, but the principal constituents 

 appear to be emodin, frangulin, and purshianin, which possess purgative properties. The 

 drug has a slight odour but a very bitter taste, and is in such demand that the cutting 

 of the trees has recently been re- 

 stricted by law in order to avoid 

 extermination. 



Guaiacum Wood. The heart- 

 wood of Guaiacum officinale and G. 

 sanctum contains a dark-coloured 

 resin used in the preparation of a 

 tincture employed in the treatment 

 of gout and rheumatism. The wood 

 itself is an ingredient in the com- 

 pound decoction of sarsaparilla used 

 in the treatment of syphilis. The 

 drug is principally obtained from G. 

 officinale ("lignum vitse " of com- 

 merce), an evergreen tree occurring 

 in the West Indies and South 

 America ; supplies are principally 

 obtained from Cuba and Hayti. 

 The vessels and other elements of 

 the heart-wood are filled with a dark 

 resin which, when exposed to the 

 action of oxidising agents, assumes 

 a blue colour. 



Quassia Wood. The wood of 

 Quassia amara, a tree native to South 

 America, first became used in 

 medicine about 1750. Later it was 

 found that the wood of Picraena 

 excelsa possessed almost identical 



Photo by W. G. Freeman, Esq. 



THE KOLA TREE 



