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YELLOW CINCHONA, 347 ;

stipation, the alkaloid quinine, in the form of sulphate of quinina,
is preferable.
Sulphate of Quinina— ^inincs Sulphas— is prepared by
boiling the yellow bark in water acidulated with hydrochloric
acid, by which the alkaloid is separated from its combination
with kinic and other acids, to form a soluble hydrochlorate.
This salt is decomposed, and the quinine is precipitated by the
addition of lime, and afterwards washed in boiling alcohol.
Sulphate of quinine is in the form of colorless, very light and
silky crystals, and is readily soluble in alcohol, and in water
acidulated with sulphuric acid. It is insoluble in ether, and requires
740 parts of cold, or 30 parts of boiling water to entirely dissolve it.
Cinchona is also antiseptic, as the powder dusted over un-
healthy wounds will arrest putrefaction, and promote healthy
cicatrization. Quinina will destroy minute organisms, and
preserve substances from decomposition. The cinchona alka-
loids are readily diffused into the blood, and when hypodermic-
ally injected, are absorbed by the blood. Cinchona and its
alkaloids increase the action of the heart slightly, but in large
doses quinine depresses the heart's action and enfeebles the pulse.
As quinine accumulates in the brain, a sense of fulness in the
head, a tightness and constriction about the forehead, a ringing
in the ears {tinnitus aurium)^ giddiness and vertigo are ex-
perienced. Deafness also occurs, as the effect of considerable
doses, and, if continued, permanent injury may result. Poison-
ous doses cause intense headache, dilated pupils, delirium, coma
and convulsions.
Peruvian bark and its alkaloids are the most reliable tonics and
antiperiodics.
Therapeutic Uses.—Cinchona, and its alkaloid, quinine, are in-
ternally employed in the treatment of intermittent fevers, and
also other fevers, such as remittent, typhus, puerperal and scarlet
also in influenza, neuralgias of a malarial origin, acute rheumatism,
phthisis, advanced stages of pneumonia and pleurisy, erysipelas,
urticaria, diseases of the eye, epilepsy, gangrene and mortification,
scurvy, pyemia, malarial dysentery, passive hemorrhages, and as
an anthelmintic, etc., etc.