towns in the gold regions was for a long time lighted by gas extracted from this source.

"The febrifugal properties of the bark and leaves of this plant have been testified to by many practitioners. Probably some of the exaggerated statements that have been made in reference to the efficacy of eucalyptus bark and leaves in fevers have arisen under the mistaken idea that the bark contained an alkaloid resembling, if not identical with, quinine, the well known alkaloid of cinchona barks. But Broughton, the Government chemist of Ootacamund, upon careful examination of the bark and leaves, states that neither quinine nor the other alkaloids of cinchona bark exist in the plant in any proportion. What properties the plant possesses would appear, therefore, so far as known at present, to be due essentially to the presence of eucalyptol, already noticed as the principal constituent of eucalyptus-oil. From the testimony of numerous medical practitioners in various parts of the world where the plant has been introduced, and from its popular reputation in fevers in Australia and other countries, we can scarcely doubt that it does possess antiperiodic properties, although these are far less important than those of cinchona bark.

"When, therefore, we regard the beauty of the different eucalypti, and the proved influence of E. globulus in improving the pestilential character of marshy districts, the genus must be regarded as one of the most important to man in the vegetable kingdom."

Turning now to the Comptes Rendus of October sixth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, we find a note presented to the French Academy of Sciences by M. Gimbert, in which the writer says: "A tree [like the eucalyptus] springing up with incredible rapidity, capable of absorbing from the soil ten times its weight of water in twenty-four hours, and giving to the atmosphere antiseptic camphorated emanations, should play a very important part in improving the health of malarious districts." The writer furnishes a few of the numerous results, which are interesting.

The English were the first to experiment in their sanitary plantations in Cape Colony, where they were eminently successful. Two or three years were found sufficient to change the climatic conditions and the aspect of the malarious district of their possessions.

Some years ago the Algerians took occasion to spread the eucalyptus throughout the French possessions in Africa, and the following are some of the results obtained as communicated by M. Trottier:

"About twenty miles from Alger, at Pondouk," he says, "I owned a property situated near the River Hamyze, the emanations from which produced intermittent fever among the farmers and their servants every year. In the Spring of eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, I planted upon this farm thirteen thousand plants of the eucalyptus globulus. In July of that year, the season in which the fevers appear, the farmers were completely free from them. In the meantime the trees had scarcely attained a height of more than eight or ten feet. Since that time the settled population has been entirely free from fevers."

Fourteen thousand eucalyptus trees were planted upon the farm of Ben Machydlin, in the vicinity of Constantine. It has for several years past been noted for its insalubrity, being surrounded with marshes throughout the entire year. The trouble entirely disappeared, and the soil became perfectly dry in five years. The atmosphere is constantly

charged with aromatic vapors, the farmers are no longer troubled with disease, and their children are bright with health and vigor.

The operations of the manufactory of Gué in Constantine were rendered wholly impracticable during the Summer, on account of the pestilential emanations from the marshes with which it was surrounded. M. Saulier conceived and put into practice the idea of planting a large number of eucalyptus trees in these marshes, and in three years about twelve and a half acres of the marshy soil were converted into a magnificent park. The water completely disappeared, and the health of the workmen has since been in good condition.

In consequence of the large grove of eucalyptus globulus on the farm of Maison-Carrée, which is situated in a district in which the inhabitants formerly succumbed to the malaria, similar hygienic revolutions have taken place.

It is stated by land owners in Cuba that there also the paludal and telluric diseases have disappeared from the malarial districts where the eucalyptus has been cultivated.

According to Ramel, Australia is very healthy where the eucalyptus flourishes, and unhealthy where the tree is not found.

On the banks of the Var, near the entrance of a railroad bridge, is situated a garrison house, near which earthworks were thrown up to dam the river in order to build the bridge. The malaria arising from it made it necessary to change the guard each year. Two years ago, M. Villard, the engineer in charge of that section of the road, planted forty trees in the vicinity of the building, and since that time this post has been the most healthy in the country.

In the Archiv der Pharmacie, November, eighteen hundred and seventyfour, Dr. I. Homeyer has an article of over twenty pages on its leaves, and their ethereal oil. It is illustrated by several wood cuts, and he concludes that the oil consists of two turpentines, and of cymol.

Dr. G. Vulpius, in the same journal, attributes to this ethereal oil the beneficial effects of the eucalyptus on miasmatic localities.

Mr. J. Bosisto, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Victoria, points out that the eucalyptus probably exerts its influence in this respect: first, physically, by powerful root action in absorbing humidity from the earth; by its being evergreen, and in continuous action; by the abundance of its leaf surface; by its evaporation of water, oil, and acid under a perpetually genial atmosphere; and, chemically, by the power of its volatile oil, and volatile acid, abundantly present in the plant and air, to produce peroxide of hydrogen..

While this paper is going through the press, we gather the following from the "Medical and Surgical Reporter," of Philadelphia, August, eighteen hundred and seventy-five:

"We are not without hope that the eucalyptus will redeem its.reputation. Dr. Cosson recently announced that its effect in Algeria has been very marked. Since the growth of plantations of this tree around the Lake of Fezzara, the malaria, which formerly was intense, has almost disappeared.

"The village of Ain Mokra, according to Captain Ney, furnishes an equally striking instance. The station was formerly so unhealthy that it was necessary to change the French garrison every five days, on account of the number of men attacked. Fever has, however, become much more rare since plantations of eucalyptus globulus have been made on the shores of the lake, and the sides of the railway, which include,

altogether, sixty thousand trees. A writer in the Paris Temps mentions a still more singular effect: namely, that parasites (phylloxera, etc.) disappear from vines growing near the eucalyptus. The experiment, made during several years, and in several vineyards, has been uniform in its result.

"It is interesting, in connection with these facts, to observe that the leaves of this plant contain an ethereal oil, of which even half dried leaves contain six per cent, and that this oil, according to Gimbert, is a very powerful antiseptic. It will preserve blood and pus as long as carbolic acid (five months and more), and far longer than oil of turpentine. It prevents also the appearance of fungi or vibrios. These observations have received independent confirmation from Binz, in Germany."

These evidences go far to establish the fact, that the eucalyptus globulus has a good effect in preventing the spread of malarial diseases, and that it may serve decidedly practical purposes in this particular. But the most remarkakble accounts from the eucalyptus tree are those that come from nearer home. We find in the Kern County Courier an indorsement of the claims of this tree, which we copy, being confident that it will inspire confidence in what we have said on this subject. The editor of the Courier derives his information from personal observation, he being the owner of a farm upon which the matter was tested. He states his observations and experiences as follows:

"We speak somewhat positively in regard to the sanative or antimalarial influence of the eucalyptus. If all, or even part of the evidence we have read on the subject, coming fram sources entitled to the utmost confidence, is true, we are certainly justified in so doing. But we are not accustomed to speak positively, or to say in effect we know, unless we have the evidence of our own observation or personal experience. In regard to the anti-malarial influence of the eucalyptus, we have this conclusive evidence. We have given it what we regard as a reasonably fair test on our own farm. This is cultivated by two families, or companies, of Chinese. One company lives near the north and the other the south end of the premises, about three fourths of a mile apart. The localities both parties inhabit are favorable to the development of malaria. The soil is rich, moist, and teeming with vegetable life, and the free sweep of the prevailing wind is obstructed by the intervention of dense thickets. As might be expected, they have, every year, during the heated term, suffered with malarial fever. Last Winter we determined to test the much vaunted virtues of the eucalyptus. In February we gave to the party at the north end two ounces of the seed, with directions that it should be planted near the house. It germinated finely, and produced several thousands of young plants, but the frost killed most of them. About twelve hundred, however, survived. These, when the heated term commenced, had attained an average height of two feet, and emitted a strong aromatic or camphorous odor, perceptible at a distance of a hundred yards. In due time the party at the south end were visited by their usual mildly-distressing fever, but up to the present time we have looked in vain for the first symptoms to develop in the other. They are all, to their own astonishment, in the most robust health. These trees now average more

than three feet in height, and the atmosphere of the house is strongly impregnated with their odor. We have investigated in vain for other causes to which to attribute the anomalous state of health of the inmates, and can find none but the reputed sanative properties of this tree. We have finely become convinced from the evidence of our own senses that it will do all the current accounts given of it allege, and propose, the coming season, to plant it on all the waste places and corners on our farm we can spare from other purposes. If everybody would do likewise, the great valley of Kern County might soon take rank among the sanitariums of the State, because as yet no disease, except a mild type of malarial fever, has shown itself. Every land owner, be his possessions large or small, should put it in the light of a duty to plant more or less of the eucalypti."

The foregoing testimonials afford some idea of the interest which has taken root in the public mind, with regard to this tree, not only in California, but in many diverse portions of the earth. This interest, it would seem, is almost of as rapid growth as that of the tree itself. The testimony of the medical profession, too, while it is not so extravagantly sanguine as that of the laity, is, nevertheless, generally encouraging. To the separate question devoted to this subject in the circular, viz: "Do you know of any instance in which the planting of trees, and especially of the eucalyptus, has exercised a modifying influence on malarial or intermittent diseases?"-the answers from medical men have all been to the effect that the period of observation and experience has been too short to authorize the expression of any positive opinions. The following reports and communications, however, possess much value in this con

nection:

[Extract from the Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the California Pharmaceutical Society, October 9th, 1872.]

The remedial powers of the eucalyptus globulus, a native of Australia, are receiving much praise from various portions of the world.

This tree (for such it is) is the subject of an important memoir by Professor Gubler. It belongs to the natural order myrtaca-the same that furnishes the clove, pimento berry, also the melaleuca muriari, which yields cajeput oil. The species of eucalyptus grows often to a gigantic size, some of the genus eclipsing even the famed sequoias of our own State. It is impregnated in all portions with a peculiar aromatic substance, most abundant, however, in the leaves and flowers, which yield by distillation about four per cent of a fragrant volatile oil; this is mobile, nearly colorless, and has a camphoraceous odor. (The odor of the leaves very nearly resembles that of cajeput oil.) By fractional distillation it is separated into several constituents, of which the most interesting has been described by M. Cloez under the name of eucalyptol. By collecting the most volatile portion from the oil by distillation-redistillation from caustic potash and chloride of calcium, a product boiling at 175° centigrade, deflecting the ray of polarization to the right, and incapable of congelation, is obtained, having the formula C12 H20 O, which is the substance in question. It is very soluble in alcohol, which solution, when highly diluted, is eminently a perfume. Cooled to zero and subjected to the action of gaseous chlor hydric acid, absorption of the gas takes place, accompanied with an abundant crystallization; these crystals, however, are not permanent, spontaneous

decomposition taking place in a short time with the production of an aqueous solution of chlor-hydric acid, and a peculiar hydro-carbon, boiling at 168° centigrade. The action of anhydrous phosphoric acid upon it yields a liquid hydro-carbon boiling at 165° centigrade, and having a specific gravity of .835 at 12° centigrade (that of eucalyptol being .905 at 8° centigrade), and has the formula C12 H18, differing from eucalyptol in its loss of the elements of water. It has been named eucalyptene. In the reaction a polymer of eucalyptene is formed, which boils at temperatures not exceeding 300° centigrade. The hydro carbon formed by the spontaneous decomposition of the crystals, formed from the action of chlor-hydric acid gas upon eucalyptol, is also thought to be eucalyptene. Eucalyptol prevents, in a remarkable degree, the development of cryptograms. Solutions of the organic alkaloids prepared with an aqueous solution of the same, remain clear for a long time after those prepared with pure water are turbid with confervoid growths. It has been stated that the eucalyptus globulus contains a peculiar alkaloid, but as neither Cloez or Gubler obtained it, its existence is uncertain. Alkalies give with the aqueous solution a voluminous precipitate but slightly soluble in alcohol, ether, or water; to water and alcohol.it imparts a pinkish tinge. The precipitate is readily soluble in dilute acids, which solutions are colorless, or nearly so (being completely decolorized by an excess of acid), and yield upon neutralization, even after treat ment with animal charcoal, a deep purplish black precipitate. A hot alcoholic tincture of the leaves upon cooling, lets fall a precipitate which, when purified by solution in boiling alcohol, separates on cooling as a bulky, greenish white precipitate. Neither this, nor the one obtain able by precipitation of the decoction, have been sufficiently studied. Experiments are in progress by a member of this society, and the results will in due time be published.

The leaves of the tree, contrary to expectation, yield no camphor, unless we consider eucalyptol, which indeed appears to be the homologue of ordinary camphor, as such.

This species of eucalyptus is common in and about San Francisco, and is easily cultivated. It is the "Blue Gum" of Victoria and Tasmania, and is known in Spain as the "fever tree," from its efficacy in the treatment of intermittents, having effected cures in which quinine had failed. It is a tree of extraordinarily rapid growth, having been known to increase in height half an inch in twenty-four hours. As a remedial agent it has been exhibited in many forms, viz: the powdered leaves, infusion and decoction, aqueous and alcholic extracts, tincture and in cigarettes.

The tincture has been used with benefit in asthma, by inhalation. Eucalyptol has also been exhibited in pills and capsules, and is recommended in emulsion.

In July, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, Mr. R. E. C. Stearns read before the California Academy of Sciences the following paper:

ON

THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF CERTAIN AUSTRALIAN FOREST TREES, AND
THEIR CULTIVATION IN CALIFORNIA.

Australian forest trees propagated from the seed, with perhaps a few exceptions, thrive remarkably in California; the climate and soil appear to be nearly or quite as favorable to the growth of these exotics as of the native forest forms.