TONICS. 123 
as the present wholesale price in London is about 2/- per 
ounce. Another reason for its famous price at one time was 
its fashionableness. Doctors prescribed it for everything. We 
heard anaccountof howthe United States’ Army doctors, during 
the Civil War, carried out this routine treatment. One soldier, 
who was ll, said it was no use going tothe doctor, who simply 
gave one prescription. It was arranged among 20 men, who 
were om the sick list, to compare their prescriptions before 
getting them dispensed. They did so, and on each was written 
“ Spiritus fermenti cum quinnun mixturia,” which in plain 
Englishis whisky and quinine mixture. Some years ago it was 
found out that this good drug was being abused, especially in 
prescribing it for indigestion and stomach troubles, for which it 
is given toooften now. Bitters are very good for the stomach, but 
it rebels against too much of a good thing, especially when it is 
not a natural product. In short, quinine is far too concentrated 
a bitter for the stomach. The decoction of the bark is quite 
strong enough for ordinary mortals, and like Dr. Coffin we 
question whether the discovery of quinine has been any benefit 
to the human race. In the southern States it seems to be next 
door to a failure in that dreadful scourge—yellow fever. One 
night’s frost will do more good than a ton of it, has been the 
usual experience during epidemics. While in New York we 
came in contact with some old doctors who would swear by 
quinine in malarial fevers, which are sometimes, or always 
more or less difficult to diagnose. They said, if you don’t know 
that the trouble is malarial fever give quinine, and if it is it 
will cure, if not it is some other disease. Quinine will be 
noticed in the regular medicine list. 
THE YELLOW CALISAYA BARK, 
which is a good tonic medicine, is used as a substitute for the 
red. Some affirm that itis better. The general opinion, in 
which we agree, isthat both are alike good, and can be used for 
the same purpose. The decoction is an ounce to the pint, 
infusion the same. The powder can be taken crude or infused, 
and the clear only drunk. It is much used to put into wine, an 
