Observations and Experiments on Peruvian Bark. 39 



With due deference to the exahed judgment of Dr. Paris, 

 I must however, on the following grounds, dissent from his 

 opinions. The cream of tartar is objectional, merely from 

 the circumstance that the active part of the compound 

 may be obtained in a more direct and speedy process by 

 the tartaric acid. The combination of cream of tartar <ind 

 sulphate of quinine in the above prescription, does produce 

 decomposition as Dr. Paris has observed, but the virtue of 

 the medicine is not in the least affected by it, and the pre- 

 cipitate, instead of being an insoluble tartrate of quinine 

 as he observes, is sulphate of potass ; tartrate of quinine is 

 a very soluble salt, and is held in solution while the water 

 becomes slightly turbid by the precipitation of sulphate of 

 potass, which, however from its extremely minute division 

 is speedily taken up by the water, when you have a trans- 

 parent solution of tartrate of quinine and sulphate of potass, 

 and as the latter answers neither a good nor a bad purpose, 

 it of course can very conveniently be dispensed with, and 

 therefore, as before stated, the tartaric acid should be pre- 

 ferred as having a more speedy and direct action. 



Piperine has proved a valuable adjunct to quinine ; equal 

 proportions of each will act with much more energy than 

 the whole quantity of quinine or piperine alone. Dr. Chap- 

 man informs us, he has met with much success in the treat- 

 ment of intermittent fevers by employing the followmg pre- 

 scription. 



R Quinine grs X 

 Piperine grs X 

 M. ft. Pill No X 



One to be taken every hour in the absence of fever. 



Oil of black pepper is much more active than piperine, 

 one drop being fully equal to three grains of piperine, three 

 drops of oil of black pepper added lo ten grains of quinine, 

 will greatly increase the powers of this remedy, oil of black 

 pepper alone is a valuable stimulant in typhus fever, and is a 

 valuable adjunct to many medicines. 



All the preceding varieties of bark, sulphate of quinine, 

 cinchonine, and all the preparations of bark and quinine, 

 may be procured at Geo. W. Carpenter's Chemical Ware- 

 house, 301 Market street, Philadelphia. 



Note. — An alkaline substance somewhat analagous to qui- 

 nine, has recently been discovered in the cornus florida, 



