32 
THE  TREE  PRODUCING  QUILLAIA  BARK. 
was  condensed  in  the  "  Journal  de  Pharmacie"  of  September 
last,  by  M.  Leon  Soubeiran,  from  whose  paper  we  translate.  The 
information  is  valuable  as  some  have  attributed  this  bark  to  a 
tree  growing  in  the  West  Indies. — (Ed.  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.j 
The  Quillaia,  (Quillaia  saponaria,)  is  a  tree,  indigenous  to 
Chili,  South  America,  where  it  occurs  in  mountainous  districts  in 
dry  and  rocky  soils,  where  it  rains  but  ten*  or  twelve  days  in  the 
year  ;  it  is  the  last  large  forest  tree  that  is  observed  on  the  Cor- 
dilleras which  remain  part  of  the  year  covered  with  snow.  It 
retains  its  leaves  in  winter ;  they  are  of  medium  size,  thick  and 
glossy  and  beautifully  green.  I  do  not  know  the  color  or  shape 
of  the  flowers,  not  having  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  tree 
during  its  flowering  season ;  its  seed  are  contained  in  cellules 
forming  a  kind  of  rosette. 
The  liber  of  this  tree,  deprived  of  the  rough  exterior  bark,  is 
an  article  of  commerce  in  Chili,  where  it  may  be  found  in  all  the 
shops,  and  large  quantities  are  exported  from  Valparaiso  to  other 
places  along  the  west  coast  of  South  America. 
This  bark  is  used  for  washing  silk  and  linen  stuffs,  which  it 
does  without  injury  to  their  colors,  but  principally  to  wash  the 
head  once  or  twice  a  week,  which  is  said  to  be  the  cause  of  the 
beauty  and  good  condition  of  the  hair  of  the  men,  and  women  es- 
pecially, of  all  classes  of  society.  In  employing  the  bark  they 
bruise  it  between  two  stones,  and  let  it  macerate  in  water  ex- 
posed to  the  sun,  express  the  dregs,  and  use  the  infusion  for 
washing  the  article. 
As  a  therapeutic  agent  I  have  heard  it  spoken  of  as  a  febrifuge. 
They  employ  it  in  colds  in  the  head,  an  affection  very  common 
in  Chili  from  their  prolonged  exposure  to  the  sun  ;  they  inhale 
the  dust  caused  by  agitating  the  broken  up  bark,  which  produces 
a  great  deal  of  sneezing.  I  tried  this  treatment  on  one  occa- 
sion, but  to  me  the  remedy  was  worse  than  the  disease. 
The  principal  substance  contained  in  this  bark  is  saponin. 
It  is  many  years  since  it  was  sent  to  France  from  Valparaiso,  but 
I  do  not  know  why  it  has  not  been  subjected  to  trial.  In  Chili 
and  on  all  the  west  coast  of  South  America,  it  is  an  article  of 
daily  consumption. 
The  wood  of  this  tree  is  white  and  hard,  it  is  employed  in 
the  construction  of  houses,  for  which  purpose  its  good  qualities  are 
appreciated,  and  it  is  also  used  for  fuel  and  for  making  charcoal. 
