28 Observations and Experiments on Peruvian Bark. 



Art. III. — Observations and Experiments on Peruvian 

 Bark ^ by George W. Carpenter, of Philadelphia. 



The cinchona, or as it is more generally denominated, Pe- 

 ruvian Bark, is the product of several species of the genus 

 Cinchona, which in botanical arrangement, belongs to the 

 class Pentandria, order Monogynia, and to the natural or- 

 der Contorta. 



The descriptions of the species of this genus, from the 

 limited and imperfect nature of the information possessed, 

 have been generally so confused and indefinite, as to convey 

 little or no information. 



Cinchona is found in various parts of South America, al- 

 ways inhabiting mountainous tracts, where it grows from a 

 few inches in diameter to the thickness of a man's body. 

 The bark is collected in the dry season, say from September 

 till November, and after being well dried in the sun, is pack- 

 ed up in skins, forming what is called seroons, weighing 

 from fifty to one hundred and fifty pounds. 



Several species are frequently mixed together in these se- 

 roons, which are afterwards separated, according to quality: 

 it is not, however, uncommon to find several species mixed 

 together on their arrival at our markets. The tree has never 

 yet been cultivated by the Spaniards, who procure it by strip- 

 ping the natural trees of their bark, which ultimately must 

 destroy the genus, as they always die after the operation. 



Most of the varieties of cinchona being highly valuable, and 

 consequently very liable to be adulterated with various sub- 

 stances, it is therefore important to adhere to a critical ex- 

 amination of all its characters. 



The accounts of the discovery of cinchona are very nu- 

 merous, and many from their singularity and improbability, 



try. Our profession has frequently called us to ride, in every hour of the night, 

 in every season of the year, and in every kiftd of weather, and we have never 

 seen a phenomenon of the kind. Nor have we ever seen a shooting star in a 

 dark and cloudy night ; consequently, these meteors must usually be in a more 

 elevated region of the atmosphere than the clouds ; or they are decomposed 

 by the clouds ; or they are not formed in cloudy weather. We will conclude 

 by stating, that in all our riding in the night, during a long course of years, we 

 have never witnessed any thing like an ignis fatuns ; nor have we ever ob- 

 served the phosphorescent appearance, which is said to be sometimes noticed 

 upon fences, the arms of soldiers, and other slender pointed bodies ; though the 

 latter seems to be a well attested fact. — Translator. 



