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Quinine is obtained from the bark of the cinchona plant. When Europeans explored South America they found that Amerindians used cinchona to give protection against malaria and other diseases. Cinchona was cultivated in Europe, in Botanical Gardens such as Kew. In the form of quinine it gave protection to Europeans during the scramble for Africa in the late 1800s. 
Juliet Burba says that original harvesting methods of cinchona were satisfactory, and that Europeans claimed otherwise to provide an excuse for controlling the cultivation elsewhere. Cinchona Bark.Kew Kew Gardens representative admits previous history as biopirates (see Unesco Courier article Kew turns over new leaf), but David Dickson sees development of quinine as benefitting all. Survivors of our hell - extract from Guardian article And tucked between the pages are government approvals for secret pharmaceutical trials: "From the Secretary to the Government of India, Simla, June 24th 1880, despatch 197, to Dr J Reid, Senior Medical Officer, Port Blair: Regarding a new drug, cinchona alkaloid, the experimental use is very desirable... and should be confined to 1,000 convicts." Dr Reid's sample group was force-fed "three grains a day" until they started to sicken. "Convict 25276. Observed on 22 March 1881. In a weak state. Bloodless. Tongue large, pale and flabby. Diarrhoea. Dead in two days." Cinchona was a tree imported to Asia from Peru whose bark would later be distilled to make quinine, an effective and natural anti-malarial. But the rough preparation and dosage experimented with by the prison doctors caused acute side effects: nausea and diarrhoea. It was also a depressant. In monthly reports for the period of the test, the chief commissioner, Lieutenant-Colonel T Cadell, observed "a remarkable increase in suicides". Convicts "weary of life" were literally hacking each other to pieces, hoping to secure the death penalty. But Cadell had a solution: "Flogging and a reduced diet." Everyone under the age of 22 was now required to sleep in "a sort of trellis-work cage". Source: Survivors of our hell (Guardian, 23 Jun 2001). Kew is newest 'world wonder' Kew Gardens is to join the likes of the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China as a modern wonder of the world. Kew is newest 'world wonder' (BBC, 4 Jul 2003) More on Andaman Island penal colony · Andaman Cellular Jail · Kala Pani old-boys Net(work) (Times of India, 25 Aug 2001). Hakgala Botanical Garden, Sri Lanka: Where plants and trees from around the world seen at home Hakgala Botanical Gardens, just 10km away from Nuwara Eliya City. Hakgala is one of the places one visits as an essential part of a pleasant journey in the famous hill resort of Nuwara Eliya. The site is legendary. It was once the pleasure garden of Ravana of the Ramayana epic and according to many, it was one of the places where the beautiful Sitha was hidden by the demon king. The present botanic gardens were founded in 1860 by the eminent British botanist Dr. G.H.K. Thwaites who was superintendent of the more famous gardens at Peradeniya, near Kandy. It was the site initially for experiments with cinchona whose bark yielded quinine, esteemed as a tonic and febrifuge. Quinine at that time was widely used as a specific for malaria. This was perhaps the reason for the popularity of and tonic in these parts - quinine being the principle ingredient of tonic water. Source: Botanical Gardens. Quinine, guns and steamboats During the nineteenth century Europe rose above all nations in status and power due to many innovationsand progresses in industrial technology. These advances put them well ahead of many countries, many with long, rich, deep histories, such as China, Africa, and India. By looking at the Europeans conquest over many countries, reveals the impact the technological developments had in the advancement of European imperialism during the 1800's. Europeans occupied or controlled thirty five percent of the land surface of the world. By 1914 this number had rose to eighty four percent. The British Empire alone increased its land area seven times and its population by twenty fold. But what advancements helped the Europeans in their conquest for colonies? By looking at three advancements of quinine, guns and steamboats will help explain Europe's Imperialist ideas. Quinine was the main factor for the penetration of Africa and many other third world countries. Source: Three ways to conquer the world Related offsite links Cinchona, fairest of the Peruvian maids Plants Trivia Timeline. Reshaping the world. Mauve: How One Man Invented a Color That Changed the World |
updated:
30 Nov
2004