LXTRODLCTION. 



In October, 1873, ]\Ions. Gimbert narrated in 

 "Comptes Renclus"^ the results of his experiments with 

 the Eucalyptus- in Algeria. The tree grows rapidly 

 and aids in destro}-ing the malarious agency which 

 is supposed to cause fever. It absorbs as much as 

 ten times its weight of water from the soil, and 

 emits camphoraceous antiseptic vapour from its 

 leaves. A farm, some twenty miles from Algiers, 

 was noted for its pestilential air in the spring of 

 1867: thirteen thousand Eucalyptus trees were 

 planted there, since which time not a single case 

 of fever had occurred. Numerous other like cases 

 are cited. 



The honour of discovering this property in the 

 gum-tree is due to Sir W. Macarthur, of Sydney.'^ 

 But this is b}' no means the only use of the tree. It 

 is valuable as a timber tree. The flowers also yield 

 a large quantit)' of honey and are much frequented 

 by bees. All parts of the tree are said to be useful 

 as a febrifuge medicine, and the leaves when smoked 

 are efficacious in allaying pain, calming irritation, and 

 procuring sleep. Cigars made of the leaves were 



^ " Comptes Rendus," Oct. 6 (1873), P- 7^4; "Gard. Chron.," 

 Nov. 22, 1873. 



- Eucalyptus globulus. 



" Naudin on Plantations Hygieniques in '-Revue Horticole'^ 

 (1861), p. 205. 



