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ESSENTIAL SALT OP BARK. 
ART. XII. — ESSENTIAL SALT OF BARK. 
By C. Ellis. 
Salt of bark is a preparation from Cinchona, which was 
used to a considerable extent in this city, previous to the dis- 
covery of Sulphate of Quinia. 
It is now scarcely known even by name, and the few re- 
marks which follow, I am induced to offer from its close re- 
semblance to an article recently received from Europe, called 
" Febrifuge Powder of Cinchona." 
I am indebted to my friend William L. Rushton, an intel- 
ligent member of our profession in New York, for a portion 
of this powder, which is prepared by " Bassano Cavezzali di 
Lodi, first Chemist of the Governor of Milan." The direc- 
tions which accompany the article, state " that it is used in the 
same manner as the sulphate of quinine — in pills, powder or so- 
lution—the dose varying from one to two drachms, according 
to the nature of the case; that it has been used in Naples, Bel- 
gium, and other parts of Europe, and is preferred, or has su- 
perseded the use of quinia, and that its perfect solubility in 
water and the low price at which it can be furnished, are 
among the advantages it possesses." 
The essential salt of bark is certainly not identical with the 
" Febrifuge Powder," but their close resemblance in taste, 
smell, color, and solubility in cold water, will be perceived by 
an examination of the two preparations. The latter appears 
to possess a peculiar aroma, and a slight caustic taste, which 
the former has not to the same extent. 
Salt of bark, when carefully prepared, is an efficient reme- 
dial agent in the cure of intermittent and remittent fevers. 
It enjoyed a high reputation at one time in this city, and was 
one of the principal remedies employed by some of our phy- 
sicians during the prevalence of those fevers, for several 
successive years previous to the introduction of sulphate of 
quinia. 
