The Hawaiian gazette., 1875-10-13
Medicinal Properties of the Eucn.
IyPtus.

This wonderful tree appears to be a sort of
Der of ills for which it is said to be sovereign
remedy. As it is readily propagated on these
islands, and hourishes as well as on its native
heath, we would recommend owners of unoc-
cupied lands to start plantations of it. Now is
the proper time as the Winter rains are coming
on. The yield of fire-wood, of itself, will soon
pay for the investment, not TO mention other ad-
vantages Such lots as mat mdHkd of King
street, between the residence of the Hon. J.
Moanauli and the stream, which comprises a
number of acres, and is at present of no earthly
benefit to man or beast, might with small ex-
pense be converted into lovely groves which
would shed their prophylactic influences on the
adjacent population, and delight the eye of the
passer-by with their verdure.
1t is to a Corsican doctor NJ. Regulus Carlotti,
and DR.. Miergues, of Bouffarik (Algeria,) that
we are indebted for series of extended obser-
vations and experiments on the medicinal pro-
perties of the eucalyptus, more especially with
regard to intermittent fever. During Sum-
mer and Winter when this malady was more
common than usual in Corsica, NJ. Carlotti was
enabled to test the powers of his new medi-
cines to the utmost, beginning, of course with
great care and increasing the dose only after
renewed trials. The results obtained from in
fusions and decoctions of the leaves were most
satisfactory. In some respects the remody was
more efficacious than quinine, preventing a re-
lapse, which quinine often fails to do. Other
diseases are amenabe to the influence of the
eucalyptus, and it would be almost impossible
to specify the numerous medicines and medi-
caments discovered by these indefatigable pio-
neers in a new field. We are told of list of
twenty-four medical preparations discovered
by DIR. Miergues alone.
Eucalypsinthe is tonic especially recon-
mended for intermittent fevers, consumption,
rheumatism, scrofula; eucalyptol, in the form
of pill or a lozenge, has been found exceed
ingly efficacious in throat and lung diseases
while third is a substitute for the well-known
tafetas Anglais, or court plaster. The euca-
lypaster has a most refreshing and agreeable
OdOr, as, indeed, possess all the other medical
ments. Then there is eucalyptus tea, eucalyp-
tus cigarettes, also medicinal anti-rheumatic
eucalyptus oil, eucalyptus wine, eucalyptus
soap, &C., each stated to have some specific
quality to recommend it. But the uses of the
blue-gum tree do not stop here. Various pre-
parations have been made up for artistic pur-
poses, and a full account of them was given by
Dr. Miergues in ola Science pour tous,"
March 80, 1872. Tracing paper of unusual
excellence is one of these, and in insect drying
and preserving prep aration of eucalyptol is
most useful, also for the purpose of preserving
natural or anatomical specimens, the peculiar
advantage of the new method being that the
color is thereby retained. Paper soaked in Gu
calyptus oil and pressed upon printed matter or
receives an accurate copy, and in
this way DR. Miergues has copied many pages
of rare old books. Examples of this curious
process are numerous OF course, these must
be taken as only instances inter ala, and the
fact borne in mind that the attention of scien-
tifc men has only been recently turned to the
study of the eucalyptus. We may, therefore,
expect many more discoveries of similar ma
ture in process of time.-