Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-15

The eucalyptus, or blue gum-tree of
Australia, was discovered by French
scientist, Labillardiere, who visited
Van Diemen's Land in 1892. The great
size and beauty of the tree soon gave it
place iu the botanical gardens of
Europe. Its medicinal qualities, how
ever, for which it is now so famous, do
not seem to have become known until
about thirty years ago. The colonists
of Tasmania used it for great variety
of purposes, but were ignorant of its
! power as an antiseptic. This was ap-
parently discovered in Spain. In 1860,
the neighborhood of the City of Valen-
cia was planted with the eucalyptus.
y marked improvement in the health
fulness of the locality followed. The
Spaniards forthwith dubbed it the
fever tree.' 1t was soon afterwards
introduced into Algeria, the climate of
which seems to be especially adapted
to it. 1t may fairly be said to be nat
uralized there, at the Cape of Good
Hope, in the La Plata States of South
America, and in California. Outside of
these climates, it leads a precarious
life. After trial for many years in
Southern France, it has failed, as rule,
to become hardy, or to suck up and de-
stroy the poisonous vapors of the
swamps in which it was planted. The
few dozen specimens planted within
the walls of Rome are nearly all alive,
but very few of them are vigorous.
Within a year or two, the Trappist
Monks at the Ire Fontane Convent
have set out large plantations of the
trees, and are tending them the utmost
care. This may fairly be looked upon
as a decisive experiment. The place
known as Ire Fontane-the Tree Foun-
tains-lies some miles south of Rome,
and is the seat of a magnificent monas-
terry. Yet it's climate is so deadly that
the splendid buildings, rich in mosaics,
marbles and frescoes, are wholly de-
serted during the summer. Trying to
live in them then would be certain
death. II the blue gum tree makes the
Ire Fontane healthy, it can be relied
on to do the same work anywhere else.
Its record as an antiseptic and disin-
fectant is already good one. The dis
tricts in which it is indigenous are
healthy, and those into which it has
been transplanted and in which it has
thriven have become healthy. A few
miles from the city of Algiers there
was a farm which was noted for its
deadly fevers. Life on it in July was
almost impossible. In the spring of
1867, I,3OO eucalyptus trees were plant
ed there. They were nine feet high by
the next July, and not d case of fever
appeared. Nor has oneappeared since.
Near Constantine, Algeria, there were
vast swamps, never dry even in the
hottest summers, and productive Of vi
olent periodic fevers. About 1000
eucalyptus trees dried up every square
foot OF swamp and killed the fever.
Maison Carre, near Hanasch, was once
great market for quinine. The de-
mand for that drug has ceased since
the blue gum tree was planted there.
Mercantile books are said to show a
similar decline in the amount of qui-
nine consumed in Mexico and Cuba of
late, and similar cause is given for 1t.
a very unhealthy railroad station in
the Department. of Var, Southern
France, has been made healthy by a
grove of forty of these remarkable
trees.
Their introduction into the North
west would prevent vast amount OF
fever-and-ague, il they would only
grow. But unfortunately they would
not. A slight frost or a succession OF
storms kills them. They would die
there faster than the patients whose
lives they were intended to save.