47 



Sugar House Notes and Tables. By Noel Deerr. Spon. London. 



This compilation, arranged in alphabetical order, ia a welcome ad- 

 dition to the literature of the Sugar Cane. 



It contains in a condensed form data and information on all branches 

 of Boiling House and Distillery Management. This work should be 

 in the hands of all engaged in the direction of sugar mi nufacture in 



the tropics. 



H. H. C. 



EUCALYPTUS IN THE TREATMENT OF 



DIABETES.* 



New remedies for diabetes are not uncommon, but none of them 

 has so far stood the test of experience. Nevertheless a suggestion 

 which we owe to the late Mr. James Dick, the Glasgow millionaire, 

 and to Mr A G. Faulds, of the Glasj.'Ow Royal Infirmary, is one 

 which should be tried by those who have opportunities of treating 

 diabetic patients. The origin of the suggestion. 9S told bvMr. Faulds, 

 is that some years ago Mr. Dick was travelling in New Zealand, and 

 knowing that an old schoolmate of h's Mas in the country, he deter- 

 mined to hunt him up. After considerahle journeying he found his 

 old friend, and a most apieeable interview followed. During this 

 meeting the settler complained that his health had failed some years 

 after he had settled in New Zealand, and that the doctors had treated 

 him for diabetes with but little effect. Une day, however, having 

 contracted a horrible cold or influenza, a neighbouring old native lady 

 informed him that if he went to a certain eucalyptus tree and gathered 

 some of the fresh leaves, and partook of an infusion of them twice or 

 three times daily, it would cure his influenza. '1 he patient acted upon 

 this advice at the earliest opportunity. He made an infusion of the 

 fresh leaves, and took a small teacupful night and morning, with the 

 result that it not only cured his influenza, but caused his diabetes Jilso 

 to vanish wiih all its symptoms. Mr. Fields has endeavoured to 

 test this remedy in the iollowing manner : He obtained some ol the 

 dried leaves of Eucalyptus Globulus, of which an infusion was made 

 in a teapot by taking one tablespoonful of the broken leaves, about 6U 

 gr. in weight, and adding 6 oz. of wat- r, allowing it to infuse for 

 half-an-hour, and then adding a little saccharin This quantity was 

 given twice daily, and the remedy has been tried upon 46 cases, in 15 

 of which Mr. Faulds reports total disappearance of the disease, and 

 so far as can yet be judged, a complete cure. The substitution of 

 eucalyptus oil ynd eucalyptol was followed by no effect at all upon the 

 sugar, and Mr. Faulds is unable to indicate to what constituent in 

 the chemical composition of the infusion the therapeutic effect is due. 

 — {British Medical Journal, May £^th, 1902.) 



What seems very interesting is the fact that when the patient gets a 

 fresh warm infusion, the sugar at once drops in quantity, and in some 

 cases from 60 grains to half a grain per ounce. It is evident, then, 



* The virtues of Eucalyptus in treatment for diabetes has been known to the 

 peasantry of Jamaica for at least five years. Ed. 



