The New Student's Reference Work/Quinine

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Quinine (kwī'-nīn or kwĭ-nēn' ), is an alkaloid in the bark of numerous species of cinchona and in one species of remigia, its yield varying from 1½ to 8 per cent. Quinine is obtained from the powdered bark by treating it with lime; extracting the mixture with alcohol; neutralizing with an acid so as to obtain a salt of quinine; and finally purifying the product. Preparations of quinine, especially the sulphate, are largely used in medicine.