PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION B. 125 



this substance should arise, and it could probably be prepared from the 

 leaves of certain eucalypts more cheaply than from any other source. 

 It would be well, therefore, to keep this eucalyptus glucoside in mind, 

 because one never knows when quercetin as a raw material for manu- 

 facturing processes may be required. 



The kinos or concentrated tannins of the eucalypts are not .of less 

 interest than other chemical products of the genus, and a considerable 

 amount of work has been undertaken in the endeavour to elucidate 

 their properties and determine their economic values. The chemistry 

 of these exudations is just as diverse as is that of the oils, and the 

 results so far obtained have helped towards a deeper knowledge of the 

 genus. I have prepared a paper on these substances for presentation 

 to the chemical section, in which it has been shown that of all the 

 astringent substances known the kinos of certain eucalypts are the 

 best with which to prepare tinctures, as they are highly astringent, 

 do not become turbid on addition of water, and do not gelatinize in 

 tinctures, a fact of considerable importance to pharmacists. Some of 

 these kinos would be useful also as tanning substances, providing they 

 could be extracted in sufficient quantities, and a method whereby the 

 trees could be made to exude their kinos in quantity is a desideratum. 

 Something might be learned in this direction from the successful 

 methods adopted in the turpentine industry. Eucalyptus species 

 might probably be made to secrete an excess of kino, and to yield it in 

 quantity by the correct mode of collecting. The best way to do this 

 can only be determined by systematic investigation. The reward should 

 be worth the trouble. 



There are several other chemical products of the eucalypts, which 

 at the present time appear to be only of scientific interest, although 

 furnishing suggestions for future work. Some of them may, however, 

 eventually become articles of commerce, such, for instance, as the 

 peppermint ketone, which may be found useful in the treatment of 

 hay fever ; and last, but not least, the production of turpentine from 

 the oils of the most prolific pinene-yielding species. 



In these remarks I have endeavoured to show that there are 

 other products of commercial value obtainable from the eucalypts 

 besides timbers, and that these are worthy of serious consideration. 

 The latent wealth existing in the unique vegetation of this island 

 continent seems inexhaustible, and if this discussion only succeeds in 

 awakening fresh interest in our glorious eucalypts, the time occupied 

 will not have been spent in vain. 



LABORATORY EQUIPMENT, ILLUSTRATED BY LANTERN 

 VIEWS OF THE CHEMICAL LABORATORIES OF THE 

 UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND. 



By Professor B. D. Steele, D.Sc. 



