EUCALYPTUS. 155 



In diphtheria. A number of cases of diphtheria have been reported 

 by reliable physicians, in which the exhibition of Eucalyptus globulus 

 exerted a very beneficial effect. Its local application is certainly attended 

 with good results, but its internal use in this disease has been too limited 

 to justify any very pronounced opinion regarding it. As an adjuvant to 

 other remedies, it would seem from its antiseptic properties, and from 

 the fact that it is largely eliminated through the mucous membranes, to 

 be worthy of a more extended trial. 



In atonic dyspepsia and in chronic gastric catarrh, Eucalyptus is a 

 very useful article. It may be combined in such cases with coluinbo. It 

 should not be given in inflammatory conditions of the stomach. 



In chronic cystitis there is probably no remedy of equal efficacy with 

 Eucalyptus globulus. It evidently acts in such cases through contact 

 with the membrane, it being largel)' eliminated through the urine, to 

 which it communicates its characteristic odor. In such cases, attended 

 as they are by profuse secretion of the mucus with the urine, and by ina- 

 bility to retain the urine for any length of time, the following combi- 

 nation has been found to be followed with very happy results: 



R Ext. eucalypti glolmli fluidi ^vj. 



Ext. belladonna; fluidi ^ss. 



Ext. Imchu fluidi ^ss. 



Muc. acaciae ^ij. 



Ol. cinnaniuni gtt. vj 



Ft. emulsionem. 

 M. Sig. A teaspoiiful every three hours. 



As an antiseptic in surgery. This application of Eucalyptus globu- 

 lus is somewhat new, but its results have been of such a nature as to war- 

 rant a more extended trial. Dr. Floyd, of Sedgwick, Kansas (See Report 

 9, page 668) has made experiments, therapeutical and otherwise, which 

 certainly indicate it to be possessed of properties which give promise of 

 valuable results in the surgical treatment of wounds. As an illustration 

 of its value, he reports among others a case of compound comminuted 

 fracture of the forearm, necessitating amputation. The sponges and 

 bandages employed during the operation, were soaked in a 20 per cent, 

 solution of carbolic acid, and the stump was enveloped in several thick- 

 nesses of cheese cloth, which were kept constantly saturated in fluid 

 extract eucalyptus one part to seven of water. This was the only dress- 

 ing, and 10 days after the operation, the stump had healed without pain 

 or suppuration, and the patient was discharged. Dr. Floyd has found no 

 dressing equal to it in the treatment of lacerated wounds. His experi- 

 ments with different preparations of eucalyptus, on hay infusion, have 

 fixed the antiseptic properties of the drug in its resinous constituent, 

 preparations from which this principle had been removed, having had no 

 preventive influence against putrefaction. 



