As world battles vel Coronavirus pandemic, re is a surge in demand for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a common anti-malarial drug that, in some quarters, has been touted as a possible “miracle drug” in fight against COVID-19. world has kcked doors of India to get supplies of this drug, given that it produces nearly half world's HCQ tablets. 

It'll be interesting to te that history of this "game-changer" drug goes two centuries back all way to British imperial expansion in India. According to a Twitter thre by a user named Primordial Kāshyap, hydroxychloroquine's roots go all way to Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan's defeat at hands of British East India Company.

Mosquito menace in Srirangapatnam

In 1799, when Tipu Sultan was defeated by British, whole of Mysore Kingdom (in present-day Karnataka) with Srirangapatnam as Tipu's capital, came under British control. For next few days, British soldiers h a great time celebrating ir victory, but within weeks, many fell ill due to malaria, because Srirangapatnam was a marshy area with severe mosquito trouble.

local Indians h over centuries, developed self-immunity, and ir all spicy food habits helped to an extent. Whereas British troops and officers who were suddenly exposed to such tropical environment of sourn India started bearing brunt.

To quickly overcome mosquito menace, British Army immediately shifted ir station from Srirangapatnam to Bangalore (by establishing Bangalore Cantonment region), which was a welcome change, especially due to cool wear, which Brits were gravely missing ever since y h left ir shores. But malaria problem still persisted because Bangalore was also exception to mosquitoes.

RE | '100% Surety That India Has Sufficient HCQ Drug Stock For w & Future': Health Ministry

Comes relief

Around same time, Europeans h discovered a chemical composition called "Quinine" which could be used to treat malaria and was slowly gaining prominence. Thus, Quinine was imported in bulk by British and distributed to all ir soldiers, who were instructed to take regular doss (even to healthy soldiers) so that y could build immunity. This was followed up in all or British stations throughout India because every region in country h a malaria problem to some extent. 

What's Quinine?

According to  US National Library of Medicine, Quinine is an alkaloid derived from bark of cinchona tree, native to lush forests of South America indigeus populations likely discovered medicinal properties of this “magical” bark and used it to quash fevers and chills that accompanied many tropical diseases. Eventually, quinine and or antipyretic alkaloids were isolated from bark and would become most effective treatments for malaria until 1920s (when syntic antimalarial nts like chloroquine were introduced).

However, Quinine was very bitter and many soldiers refused to gulp it. Following which British sought ways to tone down bitter taste of quinine by ding gin, water, and sugar to mix in an attempt to create a more palatable antimalarial concoction.  Gin mixed with Quinine was called "Gin & Tonic", which immediately became an instant hit among British soldiers.

In fact, Army even started issuing few bottles of Gin along with "tonic water" (Quinine) as part of ir monthly ration, so that soldiers could mselves prepare Gin & Tonic and consume m everyday to build immunity.

RE | AIIMS Allocates HCQ Tablets For Its Healthcare Workers Dealing With COVID-19 Patients

Gin & Tonic for cure

That's how Gin & Tonic became a popular cocktail and is still a popular drink even today. Quinine, which was called Tonic (without gin), was widely prescribed by doctors as well, for patients who needed a cure for fever or any infection.

Over years, Quinine was developed furr into many of its variants and derivatives and widely prescribed by Indian doctors. One such descendent of Quinine, called Hydroxychloroquine, eventually became standardized cure for malaria because it has relatively lesser side effects compared to its predecessors, and is w suddenly most sought after drug in world today. 

Gin & Tonic is still kwn as quintessential British drink; as former UK PM Winston Churchill once stated, “ gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all doctors in Empire”.

RE | Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Punjab Extends Lockdown Till May 1, Total Cases Soar To 6761

RE | PM Modi Responds To US President Trump's Praise For India's Big HCQ Decision Amid Covid