Quinine Attorneys

Quinine - A Long and Winding History

Quinine is a substance that's come under a heavy degree of scrutiny recently, and that has everything to do with how it's used rather than what it contains. It would surprise many to learn that quinine has been around and in use for one reason or another for hundreds of years, and the problems that the substance has endured have only come about in recent times.

Given all the controversy that's surrounding quinine, we'd like to give people a full perspective in regards to this substance. Below you'll find a history of quinine and how it came to occupy such a prominent role in today's marketplace.

The History of Quinine

The first recorded history that includes quinine dates back to the 17th Century, when missionary monks in Peru discovered the bark of a tree that local natives were using to cure people of different maladies. Legend has it that the bark from the cinchona tree was specifically used to defeat a serious set of fevers that a local Countess had been suffering from for quite awhile.

This tree bark immediately drew praise from the missionaries, and it was soon taken back to Europe for further use. It wasn't until later in the 17th Century that an English researcher linked these mysterious "fevers" to malaria, and he actually kept this remedy secret for as long as possible, treating mostly the upper class and royalty.

In the 19th Century, two scientists discovered the active ingredient within the tree bark that actually attacked malaria, and the two, who were French, set up a factory in Paris to manufacture the powder that was extracted from the tree bark. Hence, mass marketing of quinine was born during this time.

Over the next 150 years, quinine became increasingly in-demand, especially during World War I and World War II, when malaria, especially for those who were fighting in the Pacific theater, were stricken with an almost epidemic-proportion number of malaria cases. Allied soldiers would steal, sneak and smuggle the substance through, around and over enemy lines to get it to their soldiers, and their ability to do so played a part in the turning points in both wars.

It was only in modern times that quinine came under fire. People began to hear marketing messages that quinine could be used for off-label uses, such as leg cramps, but this is where the issues arose, as quinine, while it did help with the cramping, led to other problems.

The blame here is not on the substance, but rather on how some have told the public how it could be used. If this describes your situation, please contact a quinine lawyer at Williams Kherkher immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.