PEUUVIAN BAHK. 



319 



The extreme value of the Peruvian Cinchona barks in 

 pharmacy has caused their history to be discussed more 

 than that of any other remedial agent ; the discussion re- 

 specting Peruvian Bark has moreover been greatly increased 

 by the mystery which hangs over its early history. "Whe- 

 ther it was known to the Indians prior to the discovery 

 of America^ or first used by Europeans afterwards^ is not 

 clearly proved. One tradition says it was discovered by 

 an Indian^ who was dying from fever on the bank of a 

 river ; in the agony of thirst he crawled to the water with 

 a piece of bark which he had stripped off the tree against 

 which he had been leaning, and used it as a scoop to raise 

 the water to his lips ; the bitter infusion thereby made, so 

 wonderfully revived him that he recovered, and made known 

 the value of Cinchona bark. The absurditv of this tale is 

 apparent to all who are acquainted with the effects of the 

 bark. Geoffrey says it was known to the Indians, but was 

 by them kept a secret, nntil one of them, in a fit of grati- 

 tude for some benefit received, imparted it to the Governor 

 of Loxa : this statement also is from many circumstances 

 incredible. It received the name of Cinchona from the 

 Countess of Cinchon, who in 1638 was wife of the Yice- 

 roy of Peru; and hence also the powdered bark received 



