ROHUN BARK, OR SWIETENIA FEBRIFUGA. 
287 
of the pupils that they surpassed all ex- 
pectations by which the confidence of the 
government and the public was secured, 
and the Ecole Polytechnique permanently 
established. At the risk of being thought 
rash as to our expectations, we trust such 
an institution may rise and that eventually 
a university also for India may be founded* 
CAUTION TO THE PUBLIC. 
Nux Vomica BarJc^ sold in the bazars, as 
the Rohun, or Swietenia Febrifugal. 
The above notice appeared in the Bengal 
Hurkaru on the 6th instant ; and, as the fol- 
lowing letter contains matter of deep inter- 
est, we are glad that we have an opportunity 
of giving it insertion in our present number. 
The great importance of the facts lam aoont to 
(iesciibe, demands their immediate and general 
publication. 1 am consequently compelled to place 
them before the public in the ordinary journals. 
The bark of the Rohixn tree (Svvietania Febrifu- 
ga) has long enjoyed considerable reputation as a 
remedy in the agues and remittent fevers of this 
country. Hopes were even entertained that it might 
yield on analysis an etfectual substitute for the cost- 
ly Quinine. To encourage the necessary researches, 
the Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta offered 
a prize of a aold medal to the discoverer of the 
desired sustance. In the course of the subsequent 
year Mr. Piddington announced that he had accom- 
plished that great object, and he forwaided to the 
society details of the processes he employed, and 
by which he stated that he had procured the sub- 
stance in question from the Kohuii baik, (see vols- 
4 and 5 of Transactions of the Medical and Physical 
Society.) 
On my arrival in India in December, 1833, I was 
requested by the Society to repeat Mr. Piddingion’s 
experiments, and I was furnished by Dr. Wallich 
with the necessary quantity of the itohnn bark. 
My experiments did not corruboiate Mr. Pidding. 
ton’s statements, and similar researches canied on 
at the H. C-’s Dispensary were equally inetfectual. 
Mr. Piddijiigtou then declared that the Bark we 
examined was not the true Hohun, and he sent a 
specimen of what he considered to be the genuine 
Bark to the H. C.’s Dispensaiy. About the same 
lime he sent samples, of a crystalline substance (the 
alleged new febiifuge) to the otiiceis of the Dispen- 
sary. He also sent a minute portion of the same 
crystal, and a specimen of the bark from which he 
obtained them to my friend Mr. Huriy of Cossi- 
pore- 
These crystals were immediately subjected to ana- 
lysis by iheolficers of the Dispensary, who, in con- 
junction with Mr. Prinsep, declared them to tie a 
compound of sulphuric acid and a neio vegetable 
alkali, the base of the RohuntiUt or Swietenia 
Febiifuga bark, (see India Journal of Medical Sci- 
ence, vol. I. p. 354.) 
It may not be suoerfltions to mention that I was 
not favored with an oppoitunity of examiuing the 
• Kuchilar Bengali). Kupilti {Sanscrit). 
t Uahana ( Bengali) Rohitaka {Sanscrit). 
substance iti question. 1 state this in order to acquit 
myself before the public of responsibility for any 
possible casualties connected with the facts I am 
now about to describe. 
On the 2d instant, while passing the day with 
Doctor Goodeve at Cossipoie, 1 learned for the first 
time that Mr Hurry had a portion of the “new” 
substance. He immediately placed it at my dispo- 
sal, with a specimen of bark received from Mr. 
Piddington as the Uohmi. We at once commenced 
its chemical examination. 
I he first lest applied led me to the belief that the 
Biihsiance under trial was either of the formidable 
poisons strychnine or brxicine. There was hut 
little difficulty in deciding the important question, 
for these poisons in the minutest quantities produce 
symptoms so peculiar and terrible that they cannot 
be mistaken. Tbe symptoms are violent tetanic 
spasms, occurring in paroxysms aud proving fatal 
with fearful rapidity. 
Mr. Hurry’s specimen of Mr. Piddington’s prepa- 
raiion weighed about 3 grains. 
I5< Exft. In piesence of Mr. Hurry, Dr. Good- 
eve, and my brolhei Richard O’S., about one quar- 
ter of a grain was given to a kitten — in about 20 
minutes violent spasms set in, and the animal died 
in one hour. 
Ex^t. About one-tenth of a grain was introdu- 
ced into a wound in the forepaw of a second kitten. 
In 40 minutes tetanic convulsions occurred, aud tbe 
paroxysms continued for two hours, when the symp- 
toms slowly subsided. 
On the following tiiorning I continued the enquiry 
ill Calcutta. Some days before 1 had received trom 
another quarter a few drachms of a very bitter black 
extract, marked “ Extract of Rohunna)’ which 
had been prepared for medical use in fever cases 
from hark purchased asRohun in the bazar, accord- 
ing to a muster specimen stated to have been receiv- 
ed from Mr. Piddington himself. 
At3p. M., oil the 3d instant, in presence of Dr- 
Cantor, my brother, Mr. Seyers, the Pundit Madoo 
Suddin Gooptu, and others, at the laboratory of the 
Medical College, the following experimeiits were 
performed. 
1st. 10 grains of the alleged “extract ofRo- 
liiimia” were dissolved in rain water and poured 
into the mouth of a full grown rabbit. I'he animal 
made a slight convulsive movement of its forelegs 
and iastanianeously died. 
2d. A similar solution of the Extract was made, 
and one half of it (5 grs-) was adminisiered to a 
full giown rabbit. He seemed to sulfer no incon- 
venience for five minutes, when he was suddenly 
seized wiih tetanus, which proved fatal in less than 
one minute more. Dr. Goodeve was present at 
this expeiimeiit as well as the gentlemen above 
mentioned. 
The necessary chemical investigations were mean- 
while proceeding, and an application made to Dr. 
Wallic h with reference to the identification of the 
balk, whicl), from the first experiment on the ex- 
tract, I had no doubt was that of the Nux Vomica 
tiee. 1 shall however continue the narrative of ihe 
experiments wliicli demonstrated the true character 
of the poison under examination. 
At 8 A. M. on the morning of the 4th instant my 
brollierand 1 pve 10 grs. of Ihe same extract to a 
sheep. He did not seem to suffer until 9 A.m. 
when a second dose of 10 grs. was given. In seven 
minutes the poor animal was seized with tetanus, 
and it died in fifteen minutes more. 
Lastly, at 29 minutes past 2 p. m. on the same 
day at the Medical College, in presence of Dr. 
Bramley, Captain Birch, my brother, Mr. Seyeis, 
and others, a solution containing 20 grs. of the ex- 
it act was poured into the mouth of a pariah dog, 
one half at least was immediately rejected, never- 
theless, in eight minutes the animal was seized with 
convulsions and in seven mitiuies more it died. 
it would have been needless in humanity to have 
continued these reseaiches further. They proved 
indisputably, 1st, that tbe crystals and tbe extract 
are powerful poisous aud of the same kind 2dly, 
