Francesco Torti (1658-1741) and his description on the therapeutic use of quinine: the first effective method of treating malaria based on an extract of the bark of the Peruvian cinchona tree

The work of Francesco Torti (1658-1741), who developed the use of cinchona bark, the source of quinine, to treat malaria, is examined in this paper. Torti was notable for his meticulous patient care and clinical observation during a period when humoral theories still influenced medical practice. He introduced the famous "fever tree" in his 1712 book, which detailed several forms of intermittent fevers and looked at how they responded to therapy. His efforts contributed to the growth of cinchona throughout Europe and is indicative of a larger trend in medicine toward a more patient-centred and experience-based approach.