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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



nish a timber that when green is soft and 

 easily worked, and that when dry becomes 

 very hard. Eucalyptus has been introduced 

 with success both into Europe and Califor- 

 nia, and the valuable character of the tree 

 is becoming more and more appreciated as 

 its properties are better known. Ramel first 

 brought it into Europe in 1856, and it has 

 since flourished in the southern portion 

 of the continent. As far north as Paris, 

 however, it does not thrive, the winters 

 proving too cold for it. Owing to the great 

 absorbent power of its roots and leaves, 

 and the fact that the latter yield a strong 

 aromatic odor, the tree is regarded as pe- 

 culiarly suitable for marshy and unhealthy 

 districts. The leaves contain a notable 

 quantity of a volatile aromatic oil, and afford, 

 both in the fresh and dry state, a very fluid 

 essence, which is slightly colored, and gives 

 off an aromatic odor that reminds one of 

 camphor. 



The following preparations are at pres- 

 ent manufactured from Eucalyptus : 



1. The essence already spoken of, which 

 is administered in doses of a few grms. in the 

 form of globules. 



2. Leaf-powder, which contains all the 

 active principles of the plant (essence, tan- 

 nin, bitter principle), and which is pre- 

 scribed in doses of 4, 8, 12, and even 16 grms. 

 daily. 



3. The infusion and decoction of the 

 leaves. With half a leaf (about 1 grm.) it 

 is possible to aromatize three or four cups, 

 affording a good substitute for tea. This is 

 employed as a stimulating drink. For topical 

 applications, 8 grms. in decoction, in a litre 

 of water, forms a liquor well charged with 

 the principles indicated. 



4. Water distilled from the leaves, which 

 may be advantageously used with stimulat- 

 ing drinks. 



5. Aqueous extract, alcoholic extract, 

 employed as febrifuges. 



6. Tincture or alcoholate. 



7. A liquor, which is similar to the 

 liquor of mastic, and a wine, which is a tonic 

 and febrifuge. 



8. Cigars and cigarettes. 



Dr. Gimbert has studied on himself the 

 effects of essence of Eucalyptus when taken 

 into the system. He took various doses of 

 from 10 to 20 drops, and found it had a 



soothing effect. It diminishes tie vascular 

 tension, and the sense of comfort arising 

 from it induces sleep. A very strong dose 

 produces temporary excitement, headache, 

 and slight fatigue. 



New Method for disintegrating Wheat. 



An inventor of Bristol, England, has con- 

 trived a mill for reducing wheat to flour, 

 which is said to do the work much more 

 rapidly than millstones, and at the same 

 time yields a vastly superior product. 

 The arrangement consists of iron cages 

 containing revolving radii, driven at the 

 rate of four hundred revolutions a min- 

 ute, which almost instantaneously reduces 

 the wheat to powder. At Edinbnrgh two 

 such mills have been running for more than 

 a year. Each one does the work of twenty- 

 seven pair of ordinary millstones, with a 

 saving of five and a half per cent, in favor 

 of the new mill. The bread made from the 

 flour which this mill turns out is pronounced 

 remarkable for its lightness and good keep- 

 ing qualities. 



Instinct at Fanlt in a Dnmming-Bird. 



Says a correspondent in the Bulletin of the 

 Tony Botanical Club : " I was reminded 

 the other day of the story told by Pliny, 

 of the painter Zeuxis, who represented a 

 bunch of grapes so naturally that the birds 

 flew at the picture to eat the fruit. My 

 friend Mrs. P. W. told us that a gentle- 

 man, the Rev. Mr. P., was sitting on the 

 piazza of her house with his feet encased in 

 a pair of worked slippers, adorned with 

 some highly-colored flowers, and that she 

 saw a humming-bird repeatedly peck at the 

 flowers, in the vain attempt to find in them 

 his accustomed nourishment. This curious 

 fact seems to indicate that the attraction 

 in such cases is not due to the odor of the 

 flowers, but simply to their bright color ; 

 and that the Greek story is not so im- 

 probable, after all" 



White Partridge-Berries. Of this berry, 

 sometimes called Squaw-berry, and which 

 is normally a brilliant scarlet, a good many 

 white ones were found this autumn at 

 Canaan, Conn. The white berries grew on 

 separate vines, ripened like the red ones, 

 but were much larger. 



