BARK OP QUILLAIA SAPONARIA. 
211 
The wood of the Quillakt is hard, reddish, and does not 
split; the Chilians employ it to make stirups, but the quality 
which they esteem the most in this tree, resides in its bark, 
which, when pulverized and macerated in water, produces as 
much suds as the best soap. This suds is excellent for the re- 
moval of stains and grease from linen and cloth, which it 
completely cleanses. The name originates in the Chilian verb 
quilloan, meaning to wash. 
The pieces of bark which have been sent to us are rugose, 
cracked, fibrous, and of a grayish color exteriorly, whitish in- 
teriorly,. When broken, there are perceived innumerable 
small brilliant points. They furnish a grayish powder, having 
no taste at first, but soon followed by a strong biting impres- 
sion. It excites considerable cough and sneezing.* 
marked at the apex with the remains of the style, spreading in the form of 
a star, one-celled, superiorly bivalved, valves turned outwards; seeds many, 
obovate imbricate, at the apices alated. Dec. and R. and P. 
J. C. 
* The following extracts are from a letter of Dr. Ruschenberger of the 
United States Navy, to the editor of the American Medical Intelligencer, 
September 15, 1840. 
" I spent the first half of the year 1827 in Chili, and there became ac- 
quainted with the quillai bark, and though I was told it was used medi- 
cinally by the Indians or aboriginal natives, 1 never learned any thing in 
relation to its specific application. As I have stated, it was known more 
for what might be considered its domestic virtues than medicinal qualities. 
On my return from Chili in the autumn of 1829, 1 brought some of the 
bark to this city ; but I do not know that 1 was the first who did so. I 
spent some part of the years 1831, 2, and 3 on the coast of Chili, and when 
I left Valparaiso in October, 1833, the extract of quillai was not known 
there. I brought home with me a very considerable quantity of the bark, 
for the purpose of causing experiments to be made with it, to ascertain 
whether it might not be useful in the arts ; and about the same time se- 
veral tons of the bark were imported into Baltimore. In April, 1835, I 
received a letter from my friend, Dr. J. Styles, of Valparaiso, informing 
me that a foreign pharmaceutist had prepared an extract from the quillai, 
from which he hoped to derive great benefits, if experiment should prove 
the extract to be a valuable medicine, as was suspected. As 1 was on the 
eve of departure from the United States, I was not able to cause its vir- 
tues to be tested, as I had been requested to do. 
