The sun., 1903-09-13
EUCALYpTUSPORCONSUMpTION
RESULTS or RECENT ENPERl-
MENTS IN GERMAN.
Fifty Per Cent. Of Those Treated by the New
Syst en- Of Inhalation Declared to iiavc
Bccn Gurcsl-Eurther Tests Needed.
ThOuSh--lt's an Australian DlseOve cry.

system Oi iliiialatiOn btSlaTtU 10 tahSc
Bccn Curcsl-Further Tests Needed.
ThOush-lt's an Australian Discovery.
Frank H. Mason. United States Consul
General at Berlin, has sent to the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor at Wash
ing,on an account of the use of eucalyptus
| in treating tuberculosis.
At the last meeting of the Medical Society
of Berlin. he says, there was presented
by DR.. Daneius and Prof Theodor SOM
meIfed an elaborate thesis describing their
experiments with the system of treating
tubercular disease by the inhalation Of
the combined fumes of eucalyptus, sulphur
and charcoal. There experiments have
aroused the interest of the foremost medi-
cal men of Berlin during the last six months.
| Concisely stated. the history and nature
Of the new method are as follows;
During his extensive travels in Aus
tralia. Robert Schneider German nler-
chant with practical know ledge OF chem
/ istry, noticed that the natives of the north
western part of Australia used a decoction
made by boiling the leaves and roots Of
the eucalyptus tree as remedy for con-
sumption, which is q prevalent disease
in many parts Of that country. He further
observed that the natives living in dis
trictswhere the eusalyptus tree grew abund.
antly were generally immune from tho
disease. and that natives suffering from
tuberculosis frequently came from other
regions to live in the eucalyptus district.
and with generally favorable results.
| From all that he could observe and learn
| by inquiry, Herr Schneider concluded that
the effective remedial agent was the eu-
calyptus, which is a germicide and an
antiseptic of recognized efficiency. With
the aid of physiological chemist, he pre-
pared combination Of flowers Of sulphur,
powdered charcoal and the pulverized
eucalyptus leaves, impregnated with
essential oil Of eucalyptus. This mixture
| has been named sanosin and is the material
| that has been used in the recent expert
| ments
Since the time OF Galen, the fumes OF
sulphur have been known to exert cura-
tive effect upon sufferers from phthisis.
and it appears that the combination Of
sulphurous acid with eucalyptus and carbon
has a peculiarly effective potency in at
tacking the bacillus of tuberculosis. On
| account of its extreme volatility, sanosin
| is put up in sealed glass tubes, each con-
tanning dose Of about two grammes (3l
grains), in which condition it is to be sold,
like other medicines, through authorized
druggists.
When used the tube is broken and it's con-
! tents poured on an earthenware plate
| heated by a spirit lamp. The volatile
eucalyptus quickly evaporates, and, in
combination with small quantity OF sui
phurous acid fumes generated, medicates
with an aromatic, penetrating odor the
air of a closed room, in which the tuber-
culous patient lives and inhales the curative
! influence in an easy, natural way.
The new remedy was brought in Septem-
Der of last year to Berlin, where, after due
consideration, it was taken in hand for
elaborate scientific tests and practical
experiment Prof. Sommerfeld, who is
member OF the faculty of the University
of Berlin and leading authority in pull
monary disease, and Dr. Daneus. also a
lung specialist, took charge of the expert
ments, and a special clinic or hospital ward
was opened for that purpose in the Moabit
quarter.
Other physicians were assigned to the
various details of the work One made
regular and frequent examinations OF the
sputa of the patients under treatment,
each case from day to day. Another made
| daily inspection Of their general condition.
temperature, pulse, appetite, &C, SO that
the collective record in each individual case
is the work of several expert physicians.
The patients were taken from the poorest
class of sufferers, many Of whom lived in
damp, unsanitary dwellings. Each patient.
before being admitted to the new treat
ment, was required to present certificate
from the Royal Hospital showing that he
had been treated there and was suffering
from progressive tuberculosis Many when
admitted had reached a stage at which
hope of relief by ordinary means had been
practically abandoned.
Thus far 12O patients have been treated
of whom. it is stated, more than so per cent.
| have been discharged as cured. Some nave
| been able while under treatment and sleep
ing in the hospital at night, to spend parts
| of the day at their usual occupations
The purpose of the meeting was, first.
to listen to formal theses prepared and
read by Dr. Danelills and Prot. Sommerfeld,
describing the process OF treatment and
| giving the detailed records of a number OF
difficult cases, and. second to present in
! person for examination by the assembled
physicians, several of the patients who had
been treated for tubercuIar disease by.
one or more OF tne physicians present, Ildu
| received certificates from them on entering
the eucalyptus clinic and were now de-
clared to be cured.
Mr.. Mason says that it is not within the
! province or purpose of his report to venture
an opinion as to the effectiveness or pernla-
nent value of this new remedy. SO many
| sensational cures have been announced IN
recent years for phthisis, cancer and other
! widespread human diseases that the aver
age layman is constrained to receive the
announcement of further discoveries in the
! same fields with q certain incredulity.
AT the same time. Mr.. Mason says, it
| must be conceded that, in view OF the don-
mating importance of the subject the record
! of what sanosin has thus faI accomplished
| il entitled to "A more than mere passiI q
| recognition, The period Of experiment.
is, OF course too brief to form the basis Of
any definite conclusion.
There is a general unwilingness among
| pbyr icians to accept the arrest OF tuber-
cuar disease for 20 short period as six
| months AZ proof of "A permanent cure.
| Ol hers doubt whether any process OF in
| ha lat ion alone can reach the ultimate seat
of the disease.
1t will probably be safe, Mr. Mason thinks,
| to accept for the present the conservative
| but positive statement Of DIR. ELgel, the
expert charged during the recent expert
| ments with the examination cf the sputun,
III which he has had long experience