See the article CINCHONA.

The account there given being, however, somewhat defective and indistinct in regard both to the enumeration of the species and the botanical definitions, it has been thought proper to supply those defects in this place by the following more particular descriptions and additional notices concerning an article of so great importance in the materia medica.

"CINCHONA OFFICINALIS (Quinquina Condami Alta Gallie. 1738), PERUVIAN-BARK TREE. The characters are as follows.

"Cal. Perianthium monophyllum, superum, quinquefidum, minimum, persistens. Cor. monopetala, infundibuliformis; tubus cylindricus, longus; limbus patulus, quinquefidius, acutus. Stam. Filamenta quinque, minima; antherae oblongae, intra faucem corollae. Pfl. Germen subrotundum, infernum; stylus longitudine corollae, stigma crassifolium, oblongum, simplex. Per. Capitula subrotunda; calyx coronata, bilocularis, a bari versus apicem bisariarum dehiscens. Sem. plurima, oblonga, compressa, marginata. Obser. Flos interdum demit quintam partem numeri in singulis partibus."

In Vol. XL. of the Phil. Trans. p. 81, No. 446, there is an account of the Jesuits-bark tree of Peru by Mr William Arrot.—M. de la Condamine afterwards gave a more particular and scientific account of this tree; since which specimens of the fructification have been sent to Europe; and Dr Pulteney has given an excellent figure in his inaugural dissertation De Cortice Peruviano in 1764, from which our figure is copied.

The properties and preparations of the Peruvian bark have been already sufficiently detailed under the article CINCHONA. We shall here add the following notice of a new preparation of this bark recommended by M. Lunel. He directs to "boil five grains of salt of tartar with an ounce of bark in a pint of water; and, after filtering the decoction, another pint of water is to be boiled with the same quantity of salt and the remaining bark. In this way no bitterness remains; at the same time that the strength of the bark appears to be completely exhausted, as alcohol only extracted two grains of resin from it."

2. CINCHONA CARIBEA seu JAMAICENSIS. Of this bark Dr Wright has given an accurate description with an elegant engraving in the Phil. Trans. vol. lxvii. p. 504, from which we shall extract the botanic characters so as to distinguish it from other species.

"Fol. ovata, integerrima, acuta, nervia, oppofita. Flor. singulares, axillares. Cal. Perianthium monophyllum, quinquefidiun, minimum, persistens, campanulatum, obfoltifimi, qui quedentaturn. Cor. monopetala, infundibuliformis; tubus cylindraceus, longifimus; limbus quinquepartitus, tubo aequalis; laciniis ovatis, oblongis, reflexis, quandoque pendulis. Stam. Filamenta quinque, filiformia, erecta e medio tubi, longitudine corollae; antherae longifimae, obtusa, erecta supra basin exteriorem, affixa in faucem corollae. Cap. bipartibilis, in duas partes dissepimento parallelo, lateres inferiores dehiscens. Sem. plurima, compressa, marginata, oblonga."

Dr Wright at first found this tree of a small size; since which he discovered it 50 feet high, and of a proportional height.

The bark from the larger trunk is very fibrous and woody; that from the limbs and roots, when dry, breaks short off, and powders easier than the Peruvian bark. The Jesuits bark of Jamaica is one of the most agreeable bitters; and infused in wine or spirits with a little lemon-peel, makes a rich and elegant tincture.

In the north side of Jamaica, where this bark is produced in the greatest perfection, it is held in high esteem, and answers every purpose of the Jesuits bark. It sits easy on the stomach, and never occasions vomiting nor nausea, but checks them in remitting fevers, or where the stomach is weak or disordered.

3. CINCHONA TRIFLORA: "Folii oppositis, ovatis, acutis, integerrimis, petiolatis; Floribus tribus, axillaris."

The leaves are like the Cinchona Caribea, but larger. The flowers three in number from the axil of the leaves, and of a fine red colour. The laciniae are reflected. The seed-vessels are larger than any of the other species we have yet seen.

Mr Roberts discovered this bark tree about the year 1781, but found it nowhere else than in that district of Jamaica called Manchioneel. It grows by the side of a small rapid river near the Bath, and is about 35 feet high, but not thick in proportion.

Towards the bottom of the trunk the bark is rough and furrowed; but higher up it is smooth, and has much the appearance of the Peruvian bark. It is thinner, more fibrous, and redder, than either the Peruvian or the Jamaica bark already mentioned. When powdered, it is of a cinnamon colour, inclining more to red. The taste is musky, bitter, and astringent. It yields its qualities either infused in wine or spirits, but with some difficulty to cold infusion by water.

Trials have been made with this bark in the cure of fevers, and in several with success. But few people could bear more than 20 grains, and even that quantity sometimes occasioned to distressing a sickness and nausea that its exhibition has been in general left off.

4. CINCHONA FLORIBUNDA, (Phil. Trans. vol. lxxiv. tab. 19, page 452.), ST LUCIA-BARK TREE. "Cinchona floribus panniculatis, glabris; laciniis linearibus, tubo longioribus; staminis exsertis; foliis ellipticis, glabris."

The specimen of this bark we have examined was externally smooth; it was thin, and very fibrous. Its taste was a most nauseous bitter, that lasted long in the mouth; its astringent quality was more than the Peruvian bark.

This bark is violently emetic when fresh; but on long keeping, it loses this quality in part only, as no more than 20 grains can be ventured on, and its repetition at several hours distance.

Intermitting and remitting fevers have been cured by this bark, after resisting the use of the Peruvian bark. But it is probable that in those cases the cure was effected more from its emetic powers than by its tonic virtues. At present, however, it has gone into disuse, except perhaps in the islands where it grows, or where the Peruvian bark has either failed, or cannot easily be got to hand.

5. CINCHONA BRACHYCARPA: "Folii ellipticis, rigidis, obtusis, glabris; Floribus panniculatis, glabris; Capituli ovatis, costatis.

Mr John Lindsay surgeon, Westmoreland, Jamaica, an expert and diligent botanist, discovered this species about about the year 1785. It grew on the side of a steep hill or eminence running from east to west, and the tree was only about eight or ten feet high.

The leaves in a recent state were oval, shining, and rigid; the sprig dries with great difficulty, and turns to a rusty brown. The spike has many white flowers, similar in figure to those of the St Lucia bark tree. The seed-vessels are larger than those of the Peruvian. The seeds are small and fleshy. The trunks of this small tree are much furrowed; the cuticle very thick; the bark farther up, smooth and brown; that of the inside is of the colour of the Peruvian bark, but more fibrous. It has no aroma; and is less bitter, but more astringent, than the cinchona officinalis.

Mr Lindsay has made trial of this bark in the cure of intermittent and remitting fevers with success. He finds that the stomach will bear 25 or 30 grains very well. He has used it also in tincture and decoction, in various cases of dyspepsia, with advantage. On the whole, were this bark to be had in sufficient quantity, it promises to be an useful succedaneum to the Peruvian bark.

6. **Cinchona Angustifolia**: "Floribus panniculatis glabris; Capsulis oblongis pentagonis; Folii linearius lanceolatis." (Vide Acta Stockholm, vol. viii. 1787, p. 117. Tab. 3.)

7. **Cinchona Montana**. This species, which is a native of Guadaloupe and Martinico, was first described by M. Mallet, in the Journal de Physique for March 1784, under the name of Quinquina Piton; and is said to have been employed by the author with the happiest effects, in intermittent fevers, even after the Peruvian bark had failed.—It has since been scientifically described, and a figure of it given, by M. Badier in the Journal de Physique, Feb. 1789, under the name of "Cinchona Montana, foliis ovatis utrinque glabris, stipulis basi connato-vaginantibus, corymbo terminali, corollis glabris." It is described as a very beautiful tree, growing more than 40 feet high, and having a large regular head of branches with a thick foliage. The bark, when the epidermis is removed, is of a grey-brown colour, and its taste very bitter. It would seem to contain no resin, all its extract being soluble in water. It is however represented as a very quick and powerful febrifuge, as we have already noticed; at the same time that it possesses an emetic and cathartic property. To these possibly its effect on fever may be in part owing; though whether its evacuating qualities will admit of its ever becoming a good substitute for the officinalis, or whether it possesses any tonic power, remains yet to be determined.

8. **Cinchona Spinosa**; thus described in the Journal de Physique for October 1790: "Folii minimis subrotundis, pedunculis unifloris, corollis glabris quadrifidis tetradris, seminibus submarginitatis." It is a native of St Domingo. The flowers are like those of the Caribea, but smaller by a half. It is but a shrubby plant, not exceeding eight or ten feet in height. The leaves are small and very glabrous, and the branches terminated by a spine. The peculiar properties of this bark, or its comparative efficacy as a medicine, have not yet been ascertained.

9, 10. In the Manuel des Vegetaux by M. de St Germain, we find two species mentioned under the names of Cinchona Antillana and Cinchona Herbacea; but as no descriptions are added, we can say nothing concerning them.

11. A bark under the name of Angustura Bark has lately been introduced into practice as a substitute for the Peruvian bark. See London Medical Journal, vol. x. page 154.

This bark is of much the same colour and thickness as the canella aromatica, and powders very freely. It has a good deal of the aromatic taste joined to bitterness and astringency; and has been supposed a true species of cinchona, different from the blanca or white sort mentioned by Mr William Arrot in Phil. Trans. vol. xl. n° 445. Mr Bruce, however, is said to have pronounced it to be the bark of the Brucea antidysenterica; to which indeed the resemblance is very considerable in its effects.

The Angustura bark was supposed at first to be the production of a tree growing on the coast of Africa; but is now found to come from the Spanish Main. According to Experiments and Observations on the Angustura bark, by Augustus Everard Brande, just published, it is said to excel the Peruvian bark in some of its properties, and in other diseases to have different qualities. It is a powerful bitter, joined with an aroma not more pungent than the cascarilla, having a portion of pure oil which approaches in its nature to camphor. It differs from the Peruvian bark, by possessing a narcotic principle; and seems more powerful than it both as a tonic and an antiseptic. Various experiments on the antiseptic power of different substances are related, in which the columbo seems the least efficacious, and the Angustura bark to claim the highest rank. The following is given as the best mode of preparing the extract.

"The quantity of extract obtained by the following method is somewhat less than by boiling, but it appears altogether the best. Four ounces of powdered Angustura bark were put into a flannel bag of a conical shape: a sufficiency of boiling water was then poured upon it, and this repeated till the filtering liquor had but little taste or colour. On evaporation by a gentle heat, there remained 13 drams and one scruple of an extract, possessing the full flavour of the bark, and which contained two drams of resinous matter."

Half a pound of bruised Angustura bark was put into a still with a gallon of water, and two quarts drawn off. This distilled water has a very singular flavour, perhaps something like strong parsley water. A white essential oil swam on the surface, but in too small a quantity for separation or ascertaining its weight. This possesses the full smell of the bark, and is acrid to the taste, leaving a glow in the mouth like camphire. From six pounds of this bark, it is said, only two scruples of essential oil have been obtained by distillation.—The tincture seems also an useful preparation, but the resin in its pure state appears acrid and stimulating.

In Mr Brande's practice this bark seems to have excelled the Peruvian in curing intermittents: Dr Pearson, however, found that it was scarcely superior in any instance, and sometimes not equal; but in low fevers, and putrid fevers, it seemed superior. In the headache, attended with fever, but arising from the stomach, Mr Brande found it useful; and in dysentery and dyspepsia it has been of great service.

JESUS the Son of Sirach, a native of Jerusalem, composed, about 200 B.C. the book of Ecclesiasticus, called by the Greeks Ἐκκλησιαστικός, "replenished with virtue;" who also quote it under the title of the Wisdom of Solomon the son of Sirach. His grandson, who was also of the same name, and a native of Jerusalem, translated it from the Hebrew into Greek about 121 B.C. We have this Greek version, but the Hebrew text is lost.