58 Volatile Oils. 



through the bush, a cursory examination has often suggested 

 to me the thought of the immense amount of valuable 

 materials absolutely wasted for want of being represented to 

 the public mind, so as to bring them into competition with 

 the productions of other countries. Valuable as are the oils 

 noticed in this paper, many products o'f probably equal value 

 presented themselves during my investigations, nor have I 

 the slightest doubt that further examination would establish 

 them in a favourable position as articles of commerce. 



The residual decoction from all the Eucalypti, after the 

 expulsion of the volatile oil, consists of a bitter, extractive, 

 and astringent principle, closely resembling a solution of the 

 gum-resin exuding from the trees. This liquor, carefully 

 manipulated, may produce the well-known " Terra Japonica," 

 an article always in demand for tanning purposes. 



The fresh leaves are inflammable, and even after the vol- 

 atile oil has been extracted their inflammability is still very 

 great. On examining these leaves after distillation we find 

 a resinous coating covering each leaf ; by digestion in spirit 

 the resin is dissolved, and the spirit being removed the hard 

 resin is left behind, which burns briskly. No doubt another 

 volatile product could be obtained by the use of super-heated 

 steam. 



The green leaves, if left heaped together for one or two 

 hours, generate a high temperature, and much of the volatile 

 principle is thereby lost. Consequently, in working the 

 materials for volatile oils, no time should be lost in subjecting 

 them to distillation. 



(N.B. — I have often thought they would be valuable to 

 bush travellers during winter, as a small heap would make a 

 warm and comfortable bed.) 



We come now to the consideration of the Volatile Oils 

 valuable in medicine, and the plants producing them. All 

 the exhibited samples may very properly be placed here. 

 The action and uses of the Eucalypti and Melaleuca inter- 

 nally may be considered as diffusive, stimulant, carminative, 

 and anti-spasmodic. Applied externally they are valuable 

 rubefacients. 



I proceed to particularize several plants belonging to other 

 genera, and yielding oils valuable in medicine. 



Atherosperma Moschata, or Native Sassafras. 



This tree ranks in Victoria (as at present known) as the 

 most valuable for medicinal purposes. The bark and leaves 

 supply us with two distinct essential oils. The inner rind 





