CHAPTER XLVI. 
THE EUCALYPTUS, OR THE FEVER-TREE. 
Its Nativity.—When Discovered, and by Whom.—When Introduced 
into France.—Its Medicinal Qualities, and by Whom Discovered. 
—Its Antiseptic Properties.—The Healthful Results of its Planting 
in Malarial Districts. —Its Tour of Travel and Introduction into 
America.—Eucalyptus - planting by the Trappist Monks, and Ex- 
pected Results.—Record of the Eucalyptus as a Disinfectant.—In- 
stanced Results of its Antiseptic and Disinfecting Properties.—Eu- 
calyptus- planting in New Orleans, and Healthful Results.— The 
Eucalyptus as a Preventive against Yellow and Jungle Fever, and 
Efforts for its Introduction into India.—Experience of English Tree- 
growers in Raising the Eucalyptus.—Its Destined Future.—Climate 
Best Suited to its Growth.—Its Successful Raising on the Pacific 
Coast.—Experiments on the Virtues of the Eucalyptus and Results 
in Detail.—Its Odorous Properties.—Its Other Uses. —Eucalyptus- 
planting in California, and Probable Returns.—An Opinion in Re- 
gard to the Southern and Southwestern States. 
Amonc his other great enterprises, Garibaldi, the great 
Italian hero, engaged in planting the eucalyptus, or blue 
gum-tree, about Rome, to prevent the malarial fever 
with which the inhabitants of that city were afflicted. 
As this tree is little known in our country, some ac- 
count of it may not be uninteresting. 
According to the best authorities it is an Australian 
production, and was first discovered by the French sci- 
entist La Nillardicre, who visited Van Dieman’s Land 
in 1792. It was brought into the south of France about 
the beginning of the present century, and noble speci- 
mens of it are now growing in the public gardens of 
Nice, Cannes, Hyéres, and Algiers. Its medicinal qual- 
ities did not, however, become known until about thirty 
