[ 227 ] 
had loft much of Its aftringencyj but the two tri- 
turated infufions were very little altered in that 
refped. 
Remarks on the preceding Experiments. 
P HYSICIANS in general agree, that the Pe- 
ruvian Bark is moft powerful in its effects, when 
taken in fubftance. But as the ftomach is frequently 
unable to bear it, and as many patients have almoft 
an invincible averfton to it in that form ; it is of im- 
portance to determine in what preparations the vir- 
tues of this valuable drug are leaft impaired 5 and 
whether it may not be adminiftered, under a form 
that is elegant, palatable, and at the fame time 
fufficiently efficacious. The decodion of the Bark, 
has always appeared to me an injudicious preparation, 
for, though the cortex is not a fubftance of much 
volatility, yet there is a certain aroma accompanying 
it, which the heat of boiling water cannot fail to 
diffipate ; and confequently the medicine is deprived 
of one of its component parts, in which probably 
fome of its virtues refide. The Bark likewife un- 
dergoes a decompofition by boiling, the refin is fepa- 
rated from the gum, and remains fufpended in the 
watery menftruuna. This renders its appearance 
inelegant, its tafte naufeousj and, I fhould apprehend, 
muft confiderably diminifti its efficacy. For as the 
virtues of the Bark are ftrongeft in its native ftate, 
they depend in all probability on its compofition as 
a mixtj and muft of courfe be impaired, by the 
difuniting of its conftituent principles. By the firft, 
fecond, and third, Experiments, it appears, that the 
G g z cortex 
