CINCHONA GROWN ON THE NE1LGHERRY HILLS. 
239 
the seeds of thought; and not only so, but to recognize in all scientific at¬ 
tainments that higher lesson so ably laid down by the President of the British 
Pharmaceutical Conference, in “ turning to the contemplation of the works 
of the Great Author of the Universe.” 
FIRST REPORT ON CINCHONA GROWN ON THE NEILGHERRY HILLS. 
From J. Broughton , Esq ., Quinologist to Government; to the Secretary to Government , 
Revenue Department , Fort St. George , dated Ootacamund, 1st April , 1867. 
1. I have the honour, in the subsequent pages, of submitting such part of the results 
of my examination of the various products of the Government cinchona plantations, 
that possess sufficient interest and definitiveness to be brought under the notice of Go¬ 
vernment. 
2. This examination has been conducted under considerable difficulties, arising from 
the want of many of the chemical appliances which are requisite for the analysis of cin¬ 
chona barks. Notwithstanding the kind assistance I have received from Mr. MTvor and 
Mr. Batcock on all occasions when the establishment at the Botanic Gardens could 
supply my wants, much time has been consumed in improvising substitutes for lacking 
instruments, and in making such arrangements as are incident to a new establishment. 
3. The greater part of my attention has been devoted to an examination of C. succi- 
rubra. Of all the species yet naturalized in India this' exhibits the most vigorous 
growth ; it is numerically the most important, since nearly 800,000 plants are now 
growing in the several plantations; it is, moreover, the bark of this kind that will first 
find its way into actual consumption. For these reasons, the products of the red bark, 
trees, and the conditions of their occurrence, merit an early and careful study. 
4. A slight inspection of the more advanced portions of the plantations at Neddivuttum 
reveals considerable differences in the habit and appearances of the individual red bark 
trees. This has already been remarked by Mr. C. R. Markham, who suggested that 
these variations in the colouring and habit of the trees might probably be connected 
with differences in their yield of alkaloids. The accuracy of this conjecture is rendered 
evident by the results of the analyses of the trunk bark of four trees, which are calcu¬ 
lated in percentages of dry bark, as given below:— 
Statement of Analyses. 
I. 
II. 
III. 
IV. 
Total alkaloids (hydrated) . 
4-85 
7-00 
6-40 
6-4 
Alkaloid soluble in ether (quinine). 
3 25 
425 
475 
1-7 
Cinchonidine and Cinchonine. 
1-60 
275 
1-65 
4-7 
Sulphate of quinine obtained crystallized ... 
3-00 
4-00 
4-55 
1-7 
In the above analyses, as well as those given subsequently, the sulphate of quinine has 
been obtained in as pure a state as possible. 
5. Of No. I. it may be remarked that though the poorest specimen that has come under 
my notice, it gives at least an equal yield to the best Ecuador red barks. Nos. II., III., 
and IV. are considerably richer. Seven per cent, of alkaloids, in the natural (un¬ 
mossed) bark appeared to me so large an amount that I was led to repeat the analyses 
by a different method, which, however, closely corroborated the former results. No. II. 
owes its richness in alkaloids to the presence of an unusually large amount of cinchonine, 
which crystallized from an alcoholic solution with the greatest readiness. No. IV. con¬ 
tained comparatively but a small amount of quinine, but in its stead a large amount of 
cinchonidine, which easily yielded a sulphate not distinguishable by the eye from that of 
quinine. In this sample of bark the total quantity of crystalline sulphates obtained was 
no less than 5-2 per cent, of the weight of the dry bark. All the barks contain a certain 
amount of quinine, apparently not susceptible of crystallization. 
6. These analyses were made in all cases with the bark of the trunk, which (doubt- 
