MYRTACEiE. 301 



spread on terraces. The first day or two they are often turned, so as to be 

 fully exposed to the sun. When they begin to dry, they are frequently winnowed, 

 and are removed under cover at night. In about two weeks they become 

 dark, dry, and wrinkled, and are then packed. Some planters kiln-dry them, 

 which expedites the process very much. It is said that nothing can be more 

 fragrant than the odour exhaled from these trees, especially when in blossom. 



Pimento is in round, brown, dull, roughish berries, rather larger than a 

 corn of black pepper; they consist of an external, hard, brittle shell, which is 

 paler within, and encloses two dark-brown seeds. They have an aromatic, 

 agreeable smell, and a strong, clove-like taste. On analysis they have been 

 found to contain volatile oil, a green oil, ast,f?ngent extract, a gummy extract, 

 &c. &c. The kernels contain less volatile oil, and more astringent extract, 

 than the shell. The volatile oil is of a greenish-yellow colour, and is very 

 pungent. 



Medical Properties, fyc. — Pimento is but little used in medicine, being only 

 employed to correct the operation of other medicines, especially some of the 

 drastic purgatives, and to stimulate the stomach in some forms of dyspepsia. 

 The oil, like that of cloves, is used to cure the toothache. As a condiment, 

 however, its use is very general, and the consumption of it very great. 



Eucalyptus. — Heretier. 



Tube of calyx obovate or globose, cup-shaped, permanent, limb entire, deciduous. Pe- 

 tals none. Stamens distinct, numerous. Capsule 4-celled, or by abortion 3-celled, many- 

 seeded, opening at the apex. 



This genus is peculiar to Australia, and contains numerous species, having 

 simple, entire, glaucous leaves, with numerous apetalous flowers. The leaves 

 are dotted with numerous vesicles of oil, and it is probable that on distillation 

 they would afford a product analogous to cajeput. The species differ much 

 from each other in their physical qualities. From one, E. resinifera, is ob- 

 tained a concrete juice, soluble in warm water and known as Botany Bay 

 Kino. It is in irregular, odourless fragments of a dark-red colour in the 

 mass, but of a transparent, ruby-red in small pieces. When chewed it sticks 

 to the teeth, and has an astringent taste. Pereira (ii. 531) is of opinion that it is 

 composed of a peculiar substance, Eucalyptin, somewhat analogous to pectin 

 and tannin. White [Jour. Voy. to New S. Wales, 231) employed it with some 

 success in bowel complaints, and its powers in these affections have been con- 

 firmed by Alibert (Mat. Med. i. 7, 8). Ainslie states that it is the only kind 

 to be found in the Indian bazaars (Mat. Ind. i. 186). See Bennet, Wander- 

 ings, i. 142. 



E. robusta secretes a sweet gum, which is found in cavities in its stem 

 between the annual layers of wood ; it is of a rich vermilion or red colour. 

 E. mannifera exudes a manna-like substance, which has analogous proper- 

 ties with that article, but is not as nauseous. It is not produced by insects, 

 and only appears in the dry season, when it coagulates and drops from the 

 leaves in large particles ; some other species afford a similar product. It is 

 sweet and mucilaginous; and, though generally aperient, does not act on 

 some persons (Bennet, Wanderings, i. 319). 



Other species yield large quantities of tannin, which has become an article 

 of export to England. The E. Gunnii, on being wounded, exudes a large 

 quantity of a cool, refreshing, and somewhat aperient fluid, which is used as 

 a beverage in Tasmannia ; when kept any time, it ferments and acquires the 

 properties of beer. The E. globulus has an aromatic bark, leaves, and fruit, 

 which are used as substitutes for spices. 



