212 
BARK OP QUILLAIA SAPONARIA . 
Analysis. 
The powdered bark of quillaia was at three different times 
boiled in water. The solutions were united after filtration, 
and had a yellow color, a little thick, and slightly viscid. 
Evaporated to dryness, in a salt water bath, they left a shin- 
ing extract, of a pretty deep reddish-brown color, scarcely 
" When in Chili, in 1827, the fluid extract of quillai was not in gene- 
ral use as a medicine ; but chiefly known as a cleanser of woollen and 
silk stuffs, and a promoter of the growth of hair. Its application was not 
more extended than the bark itself, which is not used for common laun- 
dry purposes in Chili — at least not upon the coast ; perhaps for the 
reason that the tree does not sufficiently abound in the country to render 
its bark procurable at an expense which would bring it into competition 
with soap." 
" The quillai bark is brought to market in bales, or rather bundles, con- 
taining each from one to two hundred or more pounds. The bark is in 
pieces of from three to five or six feet long, from two to eight inches wide, 
depending very much upon the size of the trunk from which it may have 
been stripped. The tree grows sometimes to the height of 40 or 50 feet, 
having a diameter at the ground of from one to two feet." 
" Externally the bark is rough, and of a deep reddish-brown color ; its 
internal surface is smooth, of a cream white, which darkens by age ; and 
when recently dried, is almost entirely covered by minute crystalline par- 
ticles. When broken, the inner bark is found to be tough, compared with 
its outer covering, and may be stripped into ribbons and pliant shreds se- 
veral inches in length. The interstices of its fibres seem to be full of an 
almost impalpable powder, which is cast out when the bark is fractured, 
and when brought in contaet with the lining membrane of the nose, ex- 
cites sneezing, and sometimes a slight sense of stricture about the fauces. 
Its taste is peculiar ; at first slight, then sweetish, warm, and finally leav- 
ing an unpleasant impression upon the fauces like that produced by chew- 
ing senega, which endures for some time. The old bark floats in water 
until it becomes thoroughly wet, when it sinks. If steeped in cold water 
for eight or ten hours, in the proportion of a handful of shredded or coarse- 
ly powdered bark to a gallon of water, it produces an infusion of the color 
of common ley, which, when agitated, presents upon the surface a resem- 
blance to soapsuds. 
" From what I have seen of the effects of this cold infusion, I should 
be disposed to give it a fair trial as an injection in leucorrhcea, with an ex- 
pectation of very decidedly favorable results, probably more remedial than 
those which have been derived from a similar application of the monesia 
in this affection." 
