New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-03-14
/ The Fexdr md ARue Tree.

In q recent issue OF the PdU MNH GUset
an account is given of the naturalization o
the eucalyptus glObulus in the French set
Elements Of Algeria, and of sundry wondrouI
| M edicinal virtues attributed to this strange
| vegetable. This account adds but little
which is not pull rely local to the excellen,
letter which Fred Law Olmsted addressed
| to us few md nths ago. In view of the
| terribly malaria1 character of the soil OF
| Algiers, Intelligent residents there have
for many years urged the importance Of
planting trees, hich in various ways, but
chiefly by modifying the moisture of the
| earth, have q powerful influence in counter
| acting the miasmatic emanations. In 1862
| the first experiment with the eucalypt
or blue gum tree was tried, and sufficient
time has elapsed since then to assure the
success of the essay. Its exceedingly
rapid growth, sin eight years attaining the
height only reached by an oak in seventy
six" with the hardness and durability
OF it's wood and the commercial value Of
nearly every pa it of it, and especially of
it's leaves, commend it to the arbOrcultur-
list, while from a sanitary point of view the
results of its introduction are said to be
encouraging, M. Trottier, one of its earliest
sponsors, citing as an example his own
farm, (which except in two cases, most
probably owing tb imprudence, has enjoyed
complete immunity from fever since the
trees were planted" Whether equally thick
plantations of other rapid growing trees
would not be equally efficient in dispclling
malaria, or whether the eucalyptus pos
sesses any specific antidotal property in
this respect, it were presumptuous at this
distance to attempt to decide, though the
suggestion that 'imprudence" utilities the
protective influence appears to render
the latter suppositiOn doubtful There
can be no doubt, however, that ma
tive ingenuity is at work to develop to the
utmost the commercial advantages of the
"blue gum," and a single enterprising gen.
tleman, DR.. Miergues, has elaborated list
rations. "Eucalypsinthe is a tonic espe-
cially recommended for intermittent fevers,
consumption. rheumatism, scrofula; euca-
lyptol, in the form of pill or lozenge, has
been found exceedingly effosciOus in throat
and lung disease, while third is substi-
tute for the we'll known tafctas Anglais or
court plaster. Then there is euca.
lyptus tea, eucalyptus cigarettes. also
medicinal: anti-rheumatic eucalyptus oil
eachlstated to have some specific quality to
recommend it," In addition to these we have
tracing, and copying paper, preparations
for drying insects and preserving anatom-
ical specimens, and a host Of other things.
This is pretty nearly the history, at all
events in its medical aspects, of every new
discovery in the vegetable kingdom. First,
q few lucky instances are reported of re.
cover les during its administration; then
some enthusiast or charlatan gets hold of |
it and vaunts it as panacea for the most |
dissimilar ailments; more careful and con.
scientiOus observers test it and meet with |
disappointment, and finally it is consigned |
to oblivion to join an innumerable multi. |
tude of its predecessors. As regards the |
properties of eucalyptus, Algerian |
accounts are not always in accord, for while |
one practitioner lauds it for ''preventing a |
relapse, which guinine often fails to do
another, more cautious, says: .There have
been failures and relapses, but the number
IF cures is large enough to place the decoc-
lion of eucalyptus beside quinine as
,Onic." The real state of the case, we sup
pose, is this: In Algeria quinine, by the
he reach of the majority" and what little
here is is probably often adulterated, 70
hat any substitute for it is received with
much favor. To a certain extent such
ubstitute may be supplied in the eucalyp.
us leaves, but the experience of physicians
Who have tried the latter remedy in this
country is far from indorsing its alleged
merits. placing it as equal, perhaps, TO i'm
'ure quinine; better, undoubtedly, than
zone at all.
1t may be added that the weather in
England land tortiOri in this lattude) is
90 severe for the acclimatization Of the |
Eucalyptus. To owners of malarial sub
rban villas we commend instead the will
,w, fast growing and thirsty tree, of
hitch the extractive principle, salacin, was
nee land is still among the eclectic" fra.
ernity) panegyrized as an unfailing specific
" fever and ague.-New York World.