i88i.] 
Analyses of Books. 
*57 
As for Richard Wagner, he proves to be the opera-composer 
of Bayreuth — a man utterly unqualified to decide on such a sub- 
ject, and really not worth half the notice which Herr Jensen 
bestows upon him. 
The work before us deserves, as a whole, the approval of all 
friends of Science. We wish that some publication of a similar 
kind, adapted of course to the different state of circumstances 
in England, could be widely circulated in our country, in order 
to open the eyes of the public. 
Peruvian Bark. A Popular Account of the Introduction of 
Chinchona Cultivation into British India. By Clements 
R. Markham, C.B., F.R.S. London : John Murray. 
It will be difficult for any Englishman to read this narrative 
without mingled feelings of triumph and regret, even of humili- 
ation. We see, on the one hand, a great and noble national 
enterprise, worthier far than was ever sung by epic poet of old, 
carried to a successful conclusion. We read the history, as it 
were, of a victorious campaign waged against fever, and of an 
increase in the material resources of one of the most important 
sections of the British empire. Yet, on the other hand, we 
learn the sufferings and the neglect which have been the reward 
of the devoted band by whom such splendid results have been 
achieved. 
The general public is, of course, aware that the various species 
of trees of the Chinchona family are of exceeding value to the 
human race as being the source of quinine, now one of the most 
indispensable requisites of the physician. These trees are natu- 
rally found on the eastern slopes of the Andes, from the Bolivian 
province of Cochacamba in 19 0 S. into Colombia, a distance of 
1500 miles. For more than two centuries the whole supply of 
Peruvian bark had been drawn from these forest regions, with- 
out any attempt at systematic cultivation. The wandering 
Cascarilleros stripped the bark from the trees, and left them to 
perish. Such a system persistently followed could have but one 
result, even in the luxuriant climate of South America, and as 
the demand for quinine has been on the increase over the whole 
world it became evident that the price of this invaluable remedy 
must soon rise so high as to put it out of the reach of all but 
the wealthy. It was therefore resolved to attempt the introduc- 
tion of the Chinchona trees into India. By this step it was 
hoped that the supply of quinine and its kindred alkaloids would 
be greatly increased, the price kept within reasonable bounds, 
and the people of India would be supplied at an easy rate with a 
