35S 
MISCELLANEA, 
partly in alcohol and partly in ether, and 0-19 per cent, contaminated with an astringent 
extractive matter. Granting that 0-30 per cent, of this impure quinine is obtainable 
from the leaves, and that all of this is taken up by the water of the infusions and de¬ 
coctions I had made, one pint of preparation Nos. I. and II., would contain not quite 
grains of quinine, and each dose of 4 ounces w'ould contain less than ^ a grain, and 
the dose, 6 ounces, of preparation No. III. would contain about 1^ grain. But it can¬ 
not be supposed that anything like the whole quantity of the quinine is taken up by 
the water. However, as Mr. Howard points out, the kinovic acid, which is abundant, 
may assist the action. 
“ 12. It appears to me that a much more extended trial of the leaves is required before 
any correct conclusion can be arrived at as to their value as an antiperiodic, but^ that the 
bitter infusion acts well in giving tone in cases of atonic dyspepsia and of debility, espe¬ 
cially of ter fever ; and I consider that the Infusum CinchoncB Folioru7n would he a use¬ 
ful addition to our list of bitter vegetable infusions. 
“ 13. Should the principal Inspector-General be of opinion that further experiment 
is desirable, I shall be happy to carry out his views on being furnished with another 
supply of the fresh leaves.” 
Further experiments have been ordered to be tried with freshly gathered as 
well as with dried leaves. 
CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE CINCHONAS CULTI¬ 
VATED IN INDIA. 
The Secretary of State for India has appointed Mr. J. Broughton, late Senior 
Chemical Assistant, Koyal Institution, to the post of chemist to the Government 
Cinchona Plantations of the Madras Presidency. Mr. Broughton proceeds to 
the Neilgherries to determine, by chemical investigations made on the spot, the 
conditions of growth which produce the largest yield of alkaloids in the bark, 
and also to decide upon the best means of extending the general use of this im¬ 
portant febrifuge among the native inhabitants. The great success of the 
Neilgherry plantations, under the superintendence of Mr. MTvor, has already 
been reported in this Journal. 
MISCELLANEA. 
Foisonmg by Impure "Water.—On Wednesday, September 19, Mr. J. Humphreys, 
Coroner, resumed an inquiry at Poplar, relative to the death, through alleged impurity 
of water, of John Davis, aged twenty. The deceased, a sailor, went on shore and got 
a bucket of water from a pump. Some of the water was boiled for the breakfast of 
himself and the captain of the barge. He also drank some of the unboiled water from 
the bucket, and shortly afterwards was taken with violent cramps. He was taken to a 
doctor, and was treated, but died the next day after great suffering. Some of the water 
was analysed by Dr. Letheby, who in his report states :—“ The water contained Gl‘5 
grains of saline matter per imperial gallon, besides 2‘8 grains of organic matter, and 
much ammonia. The saline matter, as well as the organic, are chiefly derived from 
surface drainage, and the presence of ammonia indicates percolation from a sewer or 
cesspool. The water is quite unfit for drinking purposes, and, from the nature of the 
pollution, is very likely to have occasioned choleraic disease, especially if drunk without 
previous boiling.” Mr. M. Brownfield said that deceased died of cholera, without doubt, 
arising from impurity of the water. The coroner having summed up, the jury returned 
a verdict, ‘‘That the deceased died from Choleraic Disease, occasioned by drinking 
polluted water drawn from a certain pump,” and they recommended that the attention 
of the proper authorities should be drawn to the nature of leaving such a source of 
disease accessible to tire public. 
