: The origin of quinine from Peru remains a mystery because of the lack of primary data-in particular, those produced by the Jesuits working in Peru. The discovery of cinchona bark and its use in malaria treatment must have come from the Jesuits, who worked with the native Andeans, the Quichuan people, and learned how the bark of the cinchona tree could be used for chills. Unknown is whether the Andean people used it for fever that may have been the result of malaria. We explored the literature of the 1600s, 1700s, and later to trace the history of quinine that is available. All these secondary sources lack the primary data of the Jesuits in their work with native Andeans, nor is there information on how the discovery of its use for malaria-like fevers came about. One clue comes from the Jesuits who talked with the Andean people and learned about quinine. But was it used for fever? Why did the Jesuits test it against (tertian or quartan) fevers that could have been the result of malaria? The gap in our knowledge can only be resolved with the discovery of written documents by the Jesuits about quinine for malaria.

What Historical Records Teach Us about the Discovery of Quinine / Miller, Louis H; Rojas-Jaimes, Jesus; Low, Leanne M; Corbellini, Gilberto. - In: THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE. - ISSN 1476-1645. - 108:1(2023), pp. 7-11. [10.4269/ajtmh.22-0404]

What Historical Records Teach Us about the Discovery of Quinine

Corbellini, Gilberto
2023

Abstract

: The origin of quinine from Peru remains a mystery because of the lack of primary data-in particular, those produced by the Jesuits working in Peru. The discovery of cinchona bark and its use in malaria treatment must have come from the Jesuits, who worked with the native Andeans, the Quichuan people, and learned how the bark of the cinchona tree could be used for chills. Unknown is whether the Andean people used it for fever that may have been the result of malaria. We explored the literature of the 1600s, 1700s, and later to trace the history of quinine that is available. All these secondary sources lack the primary data of the Jesuits in their work with native Andeans, nor is there information on how the discovery of its use for malaria-like fevers came about. One clue comes from the Jesuits who talked with the Andean people and learned about quinine. But was it used for fever? Why did the Jesuits test it against (tertian or quartan) fevers that could have been the result of malaria? The gap in our knowledge can only be resolved with the discovery of written documents by the Jesuits about quinine for malaria.
2023
Jesuits, Chincona Bark, Loxa
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
What Historical Records Teach Us about the Discovery of Quinine / Miller, Louis H; Rojas-Jaimes, Jesus; Low, Leanne M; Corbellini, Gilberto. - In: THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE. - ISSN 1476-1645. - 108:1(2023), pp. 7-11. [10.4269/ajtmh.22-0404]
File allegati a questo prodotto
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1666112
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact