168 Botanic Drugs 



from long taking of more potent agents for these 

 disorders that eryngium is a useful drug to substi- 

 tute for them, since moderate dosage is not apt to 

 disagree with the stomach. In general, eryngium 

 may not be classed as of much value. 



EUCALYPTUS 



BLUE-GUM TREE, Eucalyptus globulus. The leaves 

 and OIL OF EUCALYPTUS, official in the U. S. and 

 several other countries. Eucalyptus rostrata, or RED 

 GUM, official in the British Pharmacopeia. It con- 

 tains kino-tannic acid and is used in troches and as 

 a gargle in sore throat. 



PHARMACOLOGY. The action is similar to that of 

 the terebenes. See "Abies." Many fantastic claims 

 have been made regarding eucalyptus. The anti- 

 malarial and anti-periodic influences are too slight 

 to be of any importance, and it does not contract 

 the spleen. The fluidextract, unless made of recent 

 leaves, is nearly inert. Robert has shown euca- 

 lyptol to be only a "medium strong" antiseptic. 



THERAPEUTICS. This is purely that of the tere- 

 binthinates, already described under "Abies," plus 

 a greater antiseptic influence than that possessed 

 by most agents of the class. CINEOL is identical 

 with eucalyptol, and cineol is not a remarkable 

 agent. Either eucalyptol or cineol may be given 

 in an average dose of 5 minims in affections of the 

 mucous surfaces of the respiratory and genito-urinary 

 organs. But the chief employment of eucalyptol 

 is in nasal sprays and inhalations and as an in- 

 gredient of antiseptic mixtures. It is a mild anti- 

 septic rubefacient incorporated into ointments used 

 in the treatment of eczema. It is not nearly so 



