Foreign Vegetables. 77 
thicker Pieces, three or four Inches long or more, 
an Inch broad, and not convoluted •, which are got 
from the Trunk of the Tree. Sometimes in Quills 
a little convoluted, not fo thick as the former, 
externally of a brown Colour, (lightly marked with 
circular Fifiures, covered with Mofs, and of a 
reddifti Colour within *, which are taken from the 
(lender Branches. Sometimes alfo it comes to us 
cut into fmall Pieces, of a whiti(h Colour on the 
outfide, and yellowilh within. This is faid to be 
the Bark of the Root, and is in the greateft Efteem 
with the Spaniards. 
It ought to be chofen of a brown or reddifli 
Colour, refembling the Colour of Cinnamon, of 
an aromatick bitter Tafte, not unpleafant, of a 
Kind of mouldy Smell, as it were, gently aroma- 
tick, and friable under the Teeth. When it is 
vifcid and glutinous, woody, decayed with Age, 
infipid, or adulterated with other Barks which have 
been dipt in the Juice of Aloes, it ought to be re- 
je&ed. 
The Tree producing the Peruvian Bark is called 
Arbor febrifuga Peruviana , China China, Quinquina 
et Ganeperide , diffa, Raii Hift. and by the Spani- 
ards, Palo de Calenturas . It grows fpontaneoufly 
in Peru , particularly upon the Hills near Loxa or 
Loja, at the Diftance of about fixty Leagues from 
Quito. 
The antifebrile Virtue of this Bark, as we have 
already related *, was firft difcovered by meer 
Chance, 
* The Account we have of its firft Difcovery is this. Some 
Trees which bear it being thrown by Wind, or fome other Ac- 
cident, into a Pool of Water, lay there till the Water acquired 
fo bitter a Tafte that no Perfon could drink it. However, one 
of the neighbouring Inhabitants being feized with a violent 
Fit of a Fever, and finding no other Water to quench his 
Thirft, 
