‘BAG . ORD. XXIX. Hesperidee. MELALEUCA LEUCADENDRON. 
essential oi], manifesting this aromatic principle still more strongly, 
is asserted by Valentynus and Rumphius; but as they called the 
oil by no peculiar name, it was not recognized as the Cajeput oil 
until some of these leaves were sent to Amsterdam, where, upon 
being subjected to distillation, an oil was obtained, agreeing, in 
every respect, with that of the best Cajeput.* This essential oil 
appears to be lodged in the minute glands or vesicles of the leaves, 
analogously to that noticed of the hypericum perforatum.* 
Cajeput oil, (called also Oleum Wittnebianum, from Wittneben, 
who gave an account of the process for obtaining it,) though 
unknown in Britain, is now admitted into the Materia Medica 
of all the principal foreign pharmacopceias. 
It is imported into Europe from the East Indies, and is distilled 
chiefly in the Island of Banda. Thunberg‘ says that it has the 
appearance of an inflammable spirit, of a green colour, and so 
completely volatile that it evaporates entirely, leaving no re- 
siduum ; its odour is of the camphoraceous kind, with a tere- 
‘binthinate admixture: when it is applied to the nostrils copiously, 
its smell is at first ungrateful, but in a small quantity, or ata dis- 
tance, its odour is very agreeable. Goetz,* on the contrary, says 
that it is impid, or rather yellowish, and that on being kept in a 
vial not closely corked, it diffuses at first a pleasant odour, which 
gradually changes to one somewhat like that of turpentine; and 
at length becomes similar to that of savine. Its taste, he sa'ys, 
is aromatic, and approaching to that of the oil of rosemary. A 
single drop, applied to the temples, produces a peculiar sensation 
in the interior canthus of the eyes, and excites tears, which he 
4 Vide Nieuwe vaderlandsche Letter-Ocffningen. P. 3. n. 3. bladz, 104. 
* The leaves of this melaleuca, according ‘to De Loureiro, are an useful medi. 
cine ; he says, they are “ attenuant, strengthening, stomachic, diuretic, emmena- 
gogue, and of service in obstructions of the liver, dropsy, debility of the stomach, 
and dyspnea, 
° 
© In Vet. Acad. Handt, 1782. p. 223. 
5 Comm, Nor. 1731. p. 5, 
