
Specimens of cinchona micrantha bark, of English commerce, 1838, in glazed case, probably from Peru, Howard collection
The display case (second on the left) shows samples of a species of cinchona bark known as cinchona micrantha, which comes from Peru. It was commercially grown in large amounts for the anti-malaria treatment quinine. These types were sold by English traders. The display cases are from the Howard Collection and were shown at a Wellcome exhibition in 1930, called the Tercentenary Cinchona Exhibition, celebrating the 300-year anniversary of the therapeutic uses of cinchona bark. The case is shown here with similar examples (A654755, A654756 and A654758).
The collection belonged to John Elliot Howard (1807-83). His father, Luke Howard, had established the first British factory to produce quinine in Stratford, east London, in 1823.
On display
Science Museum: Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries
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Details
- Category:
- Materia Medica & Pharmacology
- Object Number:
- A654757
- Materials:
- case, glass, case, wood and contents, bark
- type:
- sample
- taxonomy:
-
- credit:
- Howards
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