The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-22
THE "FEVER TREE"
A Vegetable Disinfectant for Swamps
that Cannct be Properly Drained

The eucalyptus, or blue-gum tree of
Australia, was discovered by French
scientist, Lahillardicrre, who visited Van
Diemen's Land in 1892. The great size
and beauty Of the tree soon gave it
place in the botanical gardens of Europe.
Its medicinal qualities, however, 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 an
tiseptic This was apparently discover
ed in Spain. In 1860 the neighborhood
Of the city of Valentia was planted with
the eucalyptus. 4 marked improvement
in the healthfulness of the locality fol-
lowed. The Spaniards forthwith dubbed
it the "fever tree" 1t was soon after
ward introduced into Algeria, the eli.
mate of which seemed especially adapted
to it. 1t may fairly be said to be natu-
rallied there, at the Cape of Good Hope,
in the La Plata States Of South America,
and in California.
After trial for many years in south
ern France, it has failed, as a rule, to be-
come hardy, or to suck up and destroy
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 Fon-
tame Convent have set out large planta-
tions of the trees, and are tending them
with the utmost care. This may be fair
ly looked upon as decisive experiment.
The place known as the Ire Fontane-
the Three Fountains-lies some miles
south of Rome, and is the scat of q mag
nifcent monastery. Vet its climate is so
deadly that the splendid buildings, rich
in mosaics, marbles, and frescoes, are
wholly deserted during the summer.
Trying to live in them then would be
certain death. If the blue-gum tree
makes the Ire Fontane healthy, it can
be relied on to do tile same work any,
where else. It's record as an antiseptic
and disinfectant is already good one.
The districts in which it is indigenous
are healthy, and those into which it has
been trans planted and in which it has
thriven have become healthy. A few
miles from the city of Algiers there was
farm which was noted for its deadly
fevers. Life on it in July was almost
impossible. In the spring of 1867 thir-
teen hundred eucalyptus trees were plant
ed there They were nine feet high by
the next July, and not a case of fever ap-
peared. Nor has one appeared since.
Near Constantine, Algeria, there were
vast swamps, never dry even in the hot
test summers, and productive of violent
periodic fevers. About fourteen thou
sand eucalyptus trees dried up every
square foot of swamp and killed the
fever. Maison Carree, near Hanasch,
was once q great market for quinine.
The demand 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
ouinine consumed in Mexico and Cuba
of late, and similar cause is given for
it. A very unhealthy railroad station in
the Department of Var, Southern France,
has inen made healthy by grove of
forty of these remarkable trees Chicago
Tribune.