74 - 
REPORT ON CH1NCHONA SUCCIRUBRA. 
C 4 H 3 0.,C1 + Ba0:=C 4 H 3 0 3 + BaCl. 
Benzoic anhydride may be obtained from chloride of benzoyl by the same reaction. A 
temperature of 140° to 180 3 being necessary for twenty hours. 
REPORT ON THE BARK AND LEAVES OF CHINCIIONA SUCCIRUBRA 
GROWN IN INDIA. 
BY J. E. HOWARD, ESQ. 
To the Under-Secretary of State for India. 
Sir,—I have the pleasure of reporting that the specimens of Chinchona bark and 
wood, together with dried leaves and decoction made from the same, reached me in 
good order on the 23rd of May last, and that I have since submitted them to careful 
examination. 
The appearance of the bark indicates that it has been gathered and dried under 
favourable circumstances. It is full of sap, which, in some cases, exudes a little at the 
cut ends, and forms what is called a resinous ring or circle. The specific gravity is con¬ 
siderable, and the thickness, especially of the fifteen months old bark, is remarkable for 
the time of growth, being about one-tenth of an inch in some of the quills, which curl 
much in upon themselves in drying. The external surface is warty, and the colour more 
of a tea-green than is usual in the bark as it is imported from South America; but, as it 
is not cut there at so early a stage of growth, it is difficult to form an accurate compa¬ 
rison in this respect. The taste is that of “ red bark,” being compounded of the bitter 
of the alkaloids and the more nauseous taste of kinovic acid. The powder resembles 
that of good Peruvian bark. 
In order to make the best analysis of the small quantify of bark at my command, I 
commenced with 500 grains of that of the second year’s growth, and was able to obtain 
therefrom a first and second crystallization of white sulphate of quinine. By thus 
specifying the whiteness, I mean to imply that the bark had not the commercial disad¬ 
vantage which frequently attends the “ red bark ” at a more mature stage of growth, 
resulting from the fact that the colouring matter has in these last become so much im¬ 
plicated with the alkaloids as to make the task of purification a difiicult one. The 
crystallisations I obtained were mixed with some sulphate of chmchonidine, which is 
commercially (but not medicinally) a disadvantage, and one which always attends the 
products of “red hark.” I also obtained chinchonine and other usual products of the 
process as from South American bark, viz. kinovic acid, kinate of lime, gum, chinchona 
red, etc. The product of alkaloid in a rough state was estimated at 4 - 30 per cent. A 
second trial of the same quantify enabled me to decide more accurately the percentage 
product in purified alkaloids. I found the total contents 3 - 30 to 3 - 40 per cent., and of 
this (soluble in ether) Quinine and some Chinchonidine, 2-40 per cent., leaving -60 per 
cent, of Chinchonine. which crystallized freely, and also - 30 or -40 loss, chiefly in water 
of the hydrated alkaloids. This result must be considered extremely favourable. 
I have noticed the product of some fine quills of South American red bark as 3 - G0 
per cent.,* the larger bark of the same parcel producing 3 - 91 of alkaloid. Dr. Riegel 
obtained from one ounce red bark, the best quality, 4TG per cent, by Rabourdin’s pro¬ 
cess, or 3’90 by that of Buchner. Of this 2-G5 per cent., soluble in ether, was reckoned 
as Quinine, and the rest was set down as Chinchonine.f I have obtained a much higher 
percentage of alkaloid from large and peculiarly fine “ red bark,” but I see no reason to 
doubt that even this higher percentage would be attained in the East Indies, if time 
were allowed for the growth. 
The exact period at which it would be advisable to cut the bark must be ascertained 
by experiment; but I think this should take place as soon as the bark attains to a thick¬ 
ness which would repay the cultivation. There would be positive disadvantage in 
allowing the bark to attain such an age as is indicated by many of the specimens from 
South America, if the object to be attained is the extraction of the alkaloids ; since there 
* ‘Illustrations of Nueva Quinologia,’ under head C. succirttbra, p. 15. 
f ‘Pharm. Central-blatt,’ for July, 1852. 
