CINCflO-QUININE."  343 
the  alkaloids  naturally  contained  in  calisaja  bark.  A  priated 
.  circular  is  also  extensively  circulated  among  physicians,  entitled 
"  The  Chemistry  of  the  Cinchona  Barks,"  taken  from  the  Boston 
Journal  of  Chemistry/,  the  organ  of  the  above  mentioned  firm, 
through  whose  pages  their  preparations  are  fully  heralded.  The 
circular  commences  with  an  array  of  glittering  generalities  on 
Some  of  the  Chemical  Constituents  of  Calisaya  Bark,  and  the 
Methods  usually  Employed  in  their  Separation."  We  further 
notice  a  statement,  which  is  unsupported  by  proof  and  medical 
authority,  that  all  of  the  cinchona  alkaloids  possess  equal  febri- 
fuge and  tonic  properties ;  and  that  quinia  only  acquired  the 
rank  of  superiority  as  a  febrifuge  by  reason  of  priority  of  dis- 
covery ;  a  statement  which  is  also  incorrect,  inasmuch  as  cin- 
chona was  discovered  as  early  as  1810,  by  Gomez,  whereas 
quinia  was  discovered  ten  years  later,  by  Pelletier  and  Oaventou. 
The  "  Cincho-Quinine  "  of  Jas.  B.  Nichols  k  Co.  is  composed, 
according  to  their  circular,  of  bark  alkaloids,  as  follows  :  1, 
Quinia ;  2,  Cinchonia ;  3,  Quinidia  ;  4,  Cinchonidia  ;  5,  other 
alkaloidal  principles  present  in  the  bark. 
The  claims  advanced  as  to  its  superiority  over  the  sulphate  of 
quinia  are,  namely  :  that  "  Cincho-Quiriine  "  contains  the  whole 
of  the  active  febrifuge  and  tonic  principles  of  calisaya  bark  ; 
that  it  exerts  the  full  effects  of  sulphate  of  quinia  in  the  same 
dose,  without  causing  cerebral  disturbances  ;  that  it  is  nearly 
tasteless,  and  less  costly  *than  sulphate  of  quinia.  The  dose  of 
the  preparation  is  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  physician  with 
the  direction  that  it  may  be  administered  in  doses  varying  from 
five  to  thirty  grains. 
The  apparent  insolubility  of  the  "  Cincho-Quinine,"  its  slight 
bitter  taste  and  large  medicinal  dose,  (30  grs.),  have  led  me  to 
investigate  the  true  nature  of  the  article  presented.  "  Cincho- 
Quinine  "  is  put  up  in  imitation  of  sulphate  of  quinia,  in  ounce 
bottles.  It  appears  in  the  form  of  white  friable  scales,  which 
are  almost  tasteless,  only  a  slight  bitterness  being  perceptible. 
When  placed  upon  reddened  litmus  paper,  and  a  drop  of  alcohol 
added,  the  blue  color  of  the  litmus  was  promptly  rcs.tored. 
It  proved  combustible  without  residue.  When  dissolved  in  water 
with  the  intervention  of  sulphuric  acid,  the  solution  tasted 
