The dried bark of Cinchona trees, formerly used in medicine to stimulate the appetite and to prevent hemorrhage and diarrhea. Taken over prolonged periods, it may cause cinchonism. Cinchona is the source of quinine.
Poisoning caused by an overdose of cinchona or the alkaloids quinine, quinidine, or cinchonine derived from it. The symptoms are commonly ringing noises in the ears, dizziness, blurring of vision (and sometimes complete blindness), rashes, fever, and low blood pressure. Treatment with ‘diuretics increases the rate of excretion of the toxic compounds from the body.
The general name for several trees in the bark of which quinine is found. This bark is also known as Jesuit’s bark, having been first brought to notice by Spanish priests in South America, and first brought to Europe by the Countess of Cinchon, wife of the Viceroy of Peru, in 1640. The red cinchona bark contains the most quinine; quinine is usually prepared from this. Various extracts and tinctures are made directly from cinchona bark, and used in place of quinine.
The dried bark of the tree from which the antimalarial quinine is derived.