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enirtClllar Names— “ Fever Bark,” “ Bitter Bark,*’ “ Quinine Bark/* all 
in allusion to the bitter taste. It is known as “ Whitewood ” on the Herbert .River, 
Queensland. 
Aboriginal Name. —The native name of the tree at the Clarence was 
“ Lecambil,” according to the late Mr. J. F. Wilcox, of Grafton, quoted by the late 
Dr. George Bennett, in Joitrn. Bot., v. 150. “ Laeambie ” is Mr. Charles Moore’s 
spelling in the Catalogue New South Wales Timbers, London Exhibition, 1862. 
Bark.—This yellowish-brown, often thick and deeply-fissured bark, is intensely 
bitter, and possesses valuable febrifugal and tonic properties. It is quoted in London 
drug lists. A decoction is sometimes sold in the colonies as “bitters.” It has been 
stated that it is used by some English brewers of pale ale for export, as it produces 
neither headaches nor other ill effects of hops. I have heard of its use by foreign 
brewers. It tastes remarkably like Cinchona bark, and seems to partake somewhat 
of the properties of both quinine and strychnine. This drug is undoubtedly worthy 
of careful experiments by medical men. 
From a pamphlet prepared by Dr. Joseph Bancroft, of Brisbane, for the 
Colonial and Indian Exhibition, 1886, I cull the following particulars in regard to 
his observations. He obtained the bark from near Dalbv, Queensland, some time 
after 1868 :— 
It gives out to water ami alcohol a yellowish principle, intensely bitter, and not easily made to 
assume any crystalline form. When the tincture is poured into water, the mixture becomes lluorescent, 
and excepting a slight yellowness, is not easily distinguished either by colour or taste from a solution of 
quinine. Its utility as a general tonic is established beyond all doubt. Indeed, if any powers are left, a 
debilitated stomach will respond to Alstonia. Alstonia has been used in the earlier stages of typhoid 
fever with considerable success. No unfavourable symptoms are produced by it, but patients complain of 
a bitter taste in the mouth, remarking that they consider themselves bilious. After fifteen years’ experience 
of the use of Alstonia the writer is of opinion that there is no better or more generally useful tonic. The 
tincture made with 3 oz. of the bark to a pint of proof spirit is the form generally used, the dose being 
from five to ten drops. The powder in grain doses, made up with extract of liquorice, forms a convenient 
tonic pill. An alcoholic extract made by Mr. Staiger is a much more powerful remedy, but experiments 
are wanting to determine its special utility. 
This action of Alstonia bark is described in a letter from Dr. A. W. Bixby 
to the Therapeutic Gazette (Detroit, U.S.A.), December, 1880, p. 369, as follows :— 
Alstonia constricta (F. v.M.) has a wide range of application and action as a medicine. Its action 
resembles in many respects the combined action of quinine and nux vomica. It is an antiperiodic of the 
highest type, giving better satisfaction, to my mind, than quinine or cinchonidine. It is a cerebro spinal 
stimulant and tonic: acts positively upon the great sympathetic nerve centres, and consequently increases 
positively and permanently the vital forces of the entire system. I prepare the system for its use by the 
administration of the proper sedative; then Alstonia seldom fails. Where quinine fails in chronic cases 
Alstonia often effects a speedy cure. 
He further states :— 
In typhoid, synoclial, and puerperal fevers, where an antiseptic and nerve tonic is demanded, it 
answers well. I used it in the treatment of about seventy-five such cases last fall, and with the happiest 
results. In recent colds or coryza it is an excellent remedy. At the beginning of an attack of this 
annoying trouble two grain doses of the powder every two hours gives prompt relief, The whole system 
is soon reinvigorated; the secretions and excretions, which have been more or less suppressed, are 
re-established, and the patient is all right and feels well. 
