109 EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS 



that neither quinia, nor any of the other alkaloids of ' Cinchona 

 barks as quinidia, cinchonia, or cinchonidia, exist in the plant in 

 any proportion. The properties of the leaves therefore, so far as 

 is known at present, depend essentially upon the volatile oil. 



Medical Properties and Uses. So many medical practitioners 

 have borne testimony to the febrifugal properties of the leaves 

 thus amongst others M. Pepin, Dr. Carlotti, Dr. Lorinser, 

 Professor Gubler, Dr. Maclean, and Dr. Grimbert that their value 

 in the treatment of intermittent fever can scarcely be doubted. 

 In Australia also, and in some other districts where the plant 

 has been introduced, the leaves have long had a popular repu- 

 tation in the treatment of fevers. Their anti-periodic properties 

 are, however, far less manifest than those of the cinchona barks, 

 and some of the exaggerated statements that have been made 

 in reference to the efficiency of the leaves, appear to have arisen 

 under the mistaken impression of their containing one or more 

 of the alkaloids of those barks. The best form of administra- 

 tion, according to the opinions of the majority of practitioners, 

 is the alcoholic tincture. Eecently, Dr. Curnow has published 

 two cases of ague successfully treated by the use of the tinc- 

 ture ; and Dr. Fedeli, of Rome, has also lately testified to the 

 remedial value of the various preparations of Eucalyptus, and 

 especially of the alcoholic tincture, not only in cases of periodic 

 fever and of palustral cachexia in general, but also in ailments of 

 an atonic or anaemic character. Eucalyptus leaves have been 

 likewise used as a stimulant and antispasmodic. The tincture 

 and other preparations of the leaves have been also recommended 

 for use in bronchitis ; and in the form of cigarettes the leaves 

 have been smoked, and are reputed when thus used to be 

 efficacious in bronchitis, asthma, whooping-cough, and other 

 diseases. An essence of eucalyptus employed in the form of an 

 enema has also been used with success as a vermifuge. M. 

 Grimbert has likewise recommended a new method of dressing 

 wounds by using eucalyptus leaves instead of lint. The leaves 

 are simply laid on the wounds ; and it is said that their 

 balsamic nature not only cures, but removes all the unpleasant 



