The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-07-24
From the San Francisco Bulletin.l

The wanderful properties of this tree
have only within the past few years
been discovered and appreciated. 1t is
Justly claimed that when the tree
tiourlshes in low, marshy and feverish
| districts all mlaSna will cease. It de-
strOys the malarial element in any at
mOsphere where it grows, and is a great
absorbent OF moisture draining the sub
soil almost as thoroughly as a regular
system of piping.
Ihe Eucalyptus is an evergreen, and
IS found IN its native country, Tas-
mania, in bOundless forests, both on the
hillside and i'll the lOwlands, under ex-
| tremes OF heat and cold, ranging from
l3O to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Whether
1t Will endure greater degree of cold
we think has as Yet been undetermined,
1t Is, however, worthy trial. It's re-
markably rapid growth is matter of
much surprise; attaining, as it does, a
maximum height of about 300 feet, with
q circumference Of from 80 to so feet.
For timber and fuel it is exceedingly
useful, being hard and easily worked,
and very serviCeable for such purposes
as the l1eels of vessels, bridges. etc.,
where strength and durability are es-
sential. 1t is estimated that from
$1,000 900 to $5,00O,000 in value of this
tim Der is exported annually from Aus
traiIa: The leaves of this tree are of
dark blush color, about ten inches
long, an inch wide, thin and oddly
twisted. They eXhale a strong cam
phor-like Odor, quite agreeable and
pleasant, which, with the large absorp-
tlon OF water by the roots, causes the
beneficial influence of the tree. It
bears a small white flower, having no
odor. In consequence of it's anti feb
rlle qualities the English Government
has planted it extensively in the East
Indies and Africa, in fever districts,
with the most satisfactory results. In
France, Cuba, Spain, Mexico, and MANY
other places where malaria, fever, ague,
and other pestilential diseases pre-
vailed, the eucalypti have also been
planted.
The wonderful properties of this tree
have been discussed by many scientific
institutions in Europe. In the Academy
OF Sciences i'll this city its medicinal
ana antl-mlasmatlc qualities. have re-
Geived considerable attention. DR..
P1gne Dupuyten testified before the
Academy of the virtues of the Eucalyn-
tus, and stated that he and DR.. D'Olivera
had tested it in the French Hospital.
In the garden surrounding this hospital
large number Of trees are planted for
sanitary purposes. 1t had been found
etficaciOus in the treatment of affections
OF the larynX and of mucous membrane
In general. Experiments, carefully
made, have proved that in medicinal
preparation it cures cases of intermit-
tent fever, against which quinine alone
proves pOWerless. It is also valuable as
a disinfectant. ~
In Algeria its cultivation was under
taken on a large scale. Some $4,000
We're planted in an extremely pestilen-
tial and unhealthy section, where fever
prevailed to great extent every year. |
During the first year Of their growth. |
at the time when the fever season, used
to set III, not single case of fever oc- !
CURED, yet the trees were only nine
feet high. Since then this place is re-
ported free from its unwelcome vista
tiOns.
In the vicinity of Constantinople,
another fever spot, marshy and sickly, !
the whole ground was dried up by 1900
OF these trees. In Cuba, marsh diseases
are rapidly disappearing upon the in
PRODUCTION, of this tree. A railway
station in the Department of the Var
was so unhealthy that the officials could |
not remain there longer than a year. |
Forty OF these trees were planted, and |
the unhealthy condition of the place
was changed.