The New York herald., 1874-08-19
Antiseptic
'eptic and Disease-Destroyinu
Tree Culture.

ITe0 C0ltUros
The climatic influence of tree planting has
been felt so benefcially in many parts Of the
globe that scientific inquiry has been raised
as to its sanitary effects. Just now, in
malarial diseases are rife, and it may well
excite general interest whether certain plant
ings will not prove an effectual antiseptc
to fever-laden air. Among imported trees
for which health-giving properties are claimed
the public is somewhat familiar with the
Eucalyptus or blue gum of Australia Al
though its merits have, perhaps, been exag-
gerated, there can be no doubt that where it
will thrive it fulfls the admirable Office of
absorbing the excessive moisture of marshy
localities. 1t is said to be capable of absorb
ing ten times its weight of water and Of emit
ting powerful febrifuge in the shape of
camphorous ef1uvia. The Medical Times, an
English periodical, asserts this and more of
the value Of the famous transplant. and adds
that marshy spots are speedily reduced to
solidity by its absorptive action. The English
experiments with this tree at the Cape of Good
Hope, the same authority asserts. completely
changed the climatic condition of the un-
healthy parts Of the colony and in the vicinity
of Algiers o similar revolution was effected
when the trees had been. set out only four
months and had attained only height of ten
feet Whether these sanitary results were due
to qualities possessed peculiarly by the Euca-
lyptus may be questioned. We believe that
any extensive tree planting will prove cor
rective of atmosphere in which deleterious
elements are found.
1t is well known to botansts that the
quantity of nitrogen contained in crops ex-
ceeds in enormous proportion that supplied
by the soil and its artificial fertilizers, the ex-
cess, undoubtedly, being derived from the
cir. Nitrogen, present in large proportions in
the air, is prolific source Of disease, and all
air-flters should be capable of removing nitro
genized matter. Besides absorbing nitrogen,
vegetation is an absorbent of the moisture, by
means Of its leaves, certain plants maintain
ing healthy condition without any contact
with the soil. M. Cailletet found, in one in
stance, a plant which had considerably in
creased In size, though suspended in the air
by wire. and the inference is unavoidable
that the leaves acted as filters to cleanse the
air of any organic or inorganic impurities.
The indifference to general experiments for
purifying the atmosphere by tree planting
and other expedients arises from ignoring the
fact that very small alteration of it's con-
stituents works an immense difference. To
withdraw .03 or .04 of carbonic acid from the
air is sufficient to change it from that which
is breathed in the crowded pit of theatre to
that breathed in Central Park, and we per-
ceive by the senses o very small alienation.
Tho difference between Manchester and its
suburban districts is observed by the senses,
though chemical tests show it is only .O03 per
cent. Considering the amount of air inhaled
in day by single pair of lungs--from one
thousand to one thousand two hundred gal
lons-it is evident if only very small
particle Of deleterious matter is inhaled each
hour, the amount rapidly accumulates in the
system. And this circumstance, so little sus-
pected. should stimulate the most uusparip0