ON VARIOUS EAST INDIA DRUGS. '^'77' 



parts, ^yhlch have been attended with every success, tliat 

 could be wjyfjed as a substitute for I^eruviaii bavk, ibr which 

 I first ventured to propose it. 



A figure and description of the tree, which furnishes thig 

 bark, have been published under the name of swietenia 

 febrifugay in my account of Coroniundel plants, vol. 1, page 

 18, table 17. It is a large timber tree, a native of the 

 various mouutainous ;,arts of India, You will observe, that j,. properties. 

 this bark possesses an agreeable odour, and from numerous 

 experiments, which I have made with fre^h bark, I have 

 drawn the following conclusions: — 



1. That the active parts of the bark of swietenia febrlfuga 

 are much more soluble than those of Peruvian bark, parti- 

 cularly in watery roenstruums. 



2. That it contains a much larger proportion of active, 

 bitter, and astringent powers, than Peruvian bark. 



3. That the watery preparations of this bark remain good 

 much longer than similar preparations of Peruvian bark. 



4. That the spirituous and watery preparations bear to be 

 mixed in any proportion, without decomposition. 



5. That this bark, in powder, and its preparations, are 

 more antiseptic than Peruvian bark, or similar preparations 

 thereof. 



In my practice 1 generally gave from twenty to sixty Method of ad- 

 grains pf the fine powder in substance, either in wine or "' '* ' ^ ' 

 water, as circumstances required, and commonly as often as 

 Peruvian bark is usualb- prescribed. 



I recommend, that some of this bark may be sent to the It m»y be 

 fenny countries, where intermitting fevers prevail ; and if it ""P '"ed at a 

 is found to answer, which I have no doubt of, it may be 

 imported from the East Indies at so low a rate, as to render 

 its use very general, on account of the high price of Peru- 

 vian bark. 



I am, J3ear Sir, 



Your most obedient Servant, 

 March 28, 1806. W. ROXBURGH. 



- '%* From experiments since made in England, the swie- Exnerlments 

 tenia bark has been found a valuable medicine in inter- in England. 

 mittent fevers, scrofula, and in disorders usually termed 

 nervous. 



DEAR 



