Poisoning or toxic effects caused by taking too much cinchona bark or quinine for too long.
From cinchona + -ism (suffix meaning condition or disease). Created in the 19th century to describe the side effects doctors observed when cinchona was used excessively.
Doctors had to balance cinchonism (quinine poisoning) against malaria—high doses caused ringing ears, vision problems, and other symptoms, so physicians carefully controlled 'cinchona therapy' like a dangerous tightrope walk.
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