Cascaeilla Bakk. 523 



cific side of Chimborazo, and therefore does not belong to 

 the Amazons valley. The Crown Bark ((7. condaubinea) 

 is found in the provinces of Loja, Jaen, and Cajaniarca: 

 its proper commercial name is " Cascarilla," but that term 

 is now given to cinchona in general. The Yellow Bark 

 {C. calisaya) from Bolivia is the present chief source of 

 quinine. The Indians call it Qtdna-qitina, or "Bark of 

 barks."* The cinchona-trees have the aspect of the beech, 

 with the flowering branches of the lilac; smooth bark; 

 •white wood susceptible of a polish ; opposite, entire leaves 

 similar to those of the Coffee-plant, which belongs to the 

 same order. The reckless manner of gathering the bark 

 will ere k)ng remove every trace of cinchona vegetation. 

 At least 3,000,000 pounds are shipped annually to En- 

 gland, and the demand and price are on the increase. 

 Several substitutes are used by the natives, as Maravilla 

 from the Pastassa forest, Chnq^draga from the high An- 

 des of Ecuador, Quina {Solanum pseudoquina) and Gaf- 

 ferana from Brazil. A tincture of the last is considered 

 more efiicacious than quinine. 



Salsapakilla is found on all the tributaries, but that 

 from the Tapajos, Negro, and Madeira is considered much 

 superior to the' salsaparilla of the Maranon. It is some- 

 times adulterated with the root of the Agave. 



Ipecacuanha, the great eraetic,t is the creeping root of 

 the herb Cephaelis, growing in the humid, shady forests 

 of the Amazons. It is usually gathered while in flower, 

 i. e., during the rainy season. lonidium jpoaya is some- 

 times sold for the genuine Ipecac. 



GoMPHEENA (" Paratodo " of the natives), growing on 



* The doubling of the name of a tree in Quichua is said to signify that it 

 has medicinal virtues. 



t Strong guayiisa-tea is emetic, and the Indians, who are more solicitous 

 to clear out the stomach than to empty the bowels, drink enough when they 

 wake in the morning to make them vomit. 



