Remarks on the Use of Piperine. 327 



being concentrated, and consequently greatly increased by 

 the separation of the inert and injurious portions, obviates 

 almost entirely the difficulty of exhibition, as well as facili- 

 tates a more speedy and certain action on the constitution. 



It is well known that many substances, in their crude 

 state, in consequence of bulk and insolubility, cannot be ad- 

 ministered in many stages of debility in sufficient quantity to 

 produce the desired effect. In such instances, the alkali is 

 well adapted to form a substitute ; for being separated from 

 the more gross, ligneous, and inert portions, it requires a 

 comparatively small dose, and constitutes a valuable remedy 

 in cases where the former would be rejected. Another, and 

 no less important advantage in favour of the alkaline princi- 

 ples is, the uniform persistency of their strength. No one 

 will for a moment question the many inconveniences and 

 evils, resulting from the great uncertainty of effects and dif- 

 ference of activity, in most of the crude materials ; and some 

 of the most important are subject to these defects. Peruvian 

 bark, for example, is composed of twenty-five species, and 

 each one differing in strength. Bark, even of the same spe- 

 cies, from a difference in adventitious circumstances,* to 

 which it is always exposed, (although its external characters 

 are sometimes scarcely affected, its quality is always injured) 

 is scarcely ever found alike. I have met with bark in the 

 preparation of quinine of the same species and of the same 

 importation, differing twenty-five per cent, in the product of 

 the active alkalies. The physician, therefore, would have- 

 been deceived in the strength and consequent effect of this 

 bark, while the quinine is universally the same. For exam- 

 ple, the quinine, produced by the inferior bark, although 

 much less in quantity, was fully equal in quality. If the 

 practitioner, therefore, may be so much deceived by the dif- 

 ference of strength of the same species, how much more 

 would he be disappointed by those which produced but one- 

 eighth or one twelfth the quantity — and some yield even but 

 a trace of the principles upon which their febrifuge proper- 

 ties exclusively depend. 



The preceding observations in support of concentrated 

 medicines, are made in consequence of there existing, even 

 at this period of time, some few who disapprove of vegetable 

 alkalies, and reject their use on all occasions, by giving pre- 



* See Carpenter on Cinchona, in vol. IX, of this Journal, 



