DEPRIVING QUININE OF ITS BITTERNESS. 361 
take this method of making it known to the profession. Per- 
haps I may be anticipated; but if it be so, I am not aware of it. 
In 8th month (August last.) having occasion to prescribe 
for a little patient, who was affected both with diarrhoea 
and intermittent fever, I ordered a combination of quinine 
and tannic acid. The child took it so readily that I tasted 
it, and was surprised to discover no taste of quinine ; which 
I at once attributed to the combination. 
I have since prescribed it in a number of instances, and 
found that while it was equally effectual, it was far more 
palatable than any other combination of quinine I was ac- 
quainted with. On referring to the American Journal of 
the Medical Sciences, Vol. xix. p. 219 (1S36,) it will be 
found that Dr. Ronander, Secretary of the Swedish Medical 
Association, recommended, in 1834, the tannate of quinine 
and cinchonin as the most active ingredients of the Peruvian 
bark: he asserts that he has cured by their means several 
cases of obstinate ague, which had resisted the use of sul- 
phate of quinine, and other powerful remedies, &c, &c. 
Nothing is said in the extract, from the original paper in 
Heckefs Annals, Dec'r, 1S34, of the taste of the tannate of 
quinine. Compared with the sulphate it is almost tasteless. 
The following is the extemperaneous prescription I am 
in the habit of ordering for a child two years old: R. Quiniae 
sulph. gr. x ; acid, tannici gr. ij; aqua gvj ; syrup aurant. ^ij. 
M. A teaspoonful every hour or two. 
I enclose a note on the subject from one of our most 
intelligent and careful apothecaries. 
Baltimore, February 6th, 1S50. 
Dear Sir — I find, after trying a number of times combi- 
nations of quinine sulphas and acidi tannici in different pro- 
portions, that ten grains may be deprived of its bitterness in 
a great degree, by the addition of one grain and a half of 
tannic acid. I think this is a proper proportion. 
Respectfully, James V. D. Stewart 
Dr. R. H. Thomas. 
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