Observations on the superior efficacy of the red Peruvian bark, in the cure of agues and other fevers : interspersed with occasional remarks on the treatment of other diseases by the same remedy.

  • Saunders, William, 1743-1817.
Date:
[1783]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the superior efficacy of the red Peruvian bark, in the cure of agues and other fevers : interspersed with occasional remarks on the treatment of other diseases by the same remedy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    field the larger Bark in higher eftimation. * I can on- ly explain fuch a preference from this circumftance, that the larger pieces of Bark, which were imported into this country along with the fmaller Bark, were either of a fibrous, fpongy, or ligneous texture •, or probably, damaged by moitture, and taken from the decayed trees. Druggifts have fometimes fuggefted this as an ar- gument againft the ufe of the Red Bark, and many probably endeavour to oppofe its introduction, until the quantity in the markets be greater, and more equally divided among them, or until they have been able to. difpofe of the large quantity of common Bark ihey have in their ware-houles. The tafte and flavour of the Red Bark is more dif- ficultly evolved, and is therefore at firft not fo obvious 'from che clofenefs of its texture, and from the refinous coat being (o well defended and inclofed between two other layers. It is evidently heavier than any other kind of Bark, and feems to have been prepared and dried with greater attention, its original appearance and form being better preferved. I think it probable from a more attentive view of the fubjecT:, that it may be the Bark of the trunk, or larger * They commonly reckon three fpecies of the Quinquina, though fome mike four ; the white, the yellow, and the red; I was told at Loxa,that thefe three kinds differ in their virtue only; the white having fcarce any virtue, and the red excelling the yellow. The trees from whence thefirfl Bark was taken, which were very lafcgfc, are all dead, having been entirely Hripped, which infallibly nem when they come to be old. Experience has fliewn, that ft ripping kills fome of the young ones alfo, but the greateft part efcape. For this operation they ufe a common knife, which they hold in both, hands ; the barker Ricks it into the bark as high as he can reach, and fo draws it downwards as low as he can. It does not appear that the trees which grow where the old ones flood, have lefs virtue than they, •the filiation and foil being the fame; the difference, if there be any. may arife, perhaps, from the different ages of the trees. Few but young ones are now to be met with : I do not remember to have ' feen any much thicker than my arm, or above 12 or 15 feet hig'i; ,-. hieft arc: cut voting, fhoot forth new branches from the Humps. I was