94 
The Australasian Scientific Magazine. 
[Oct. i, 1SS5. 
HOLIDAY RAMBLES IN THE AUSTRALIAN 
ALPS. 
BY 
JAMES STIRLING, F.L.S., F.G.S., Etc. 
PART III. 
Having fairly entered the field of our discoveries, let us now rest for 
refreshments. While the water is boiling in the billy, and if you have 
still any of the sassafras bark we obtained in the gullies at the higher levels 
of the Dividing Range near Tongio, let us put some in the vessel along 
with the tea and test its flavouring properties. Apropos of this — while the 
tea is cooling — do you know that we are indebted to our energetic chemist 
and legislator, Mr. Bosisto, M.L.A., for our knowledge of the properties of 
this and other medicinal Australian plants. From Mr. Bosisto’s chemical 
researches we learn that Atherosperma Moschata, the native sassafras, is 
one of the most valuable trees we possess in Victoria for medicinal pur- 
poses. A decoction from the inner rind of the bark — which is very sweet, 
with a smell like new ale — forms a good substitute for yeast ! that it has 
been employed for bronchial affections with beneficial effect. It is also a 
diuretic, a diaphoretic, and a sedative; and Mr. Bosisto is of opinion 
that the alkaloid obtained from the bark, called Atherospermine, may 
prove serviceable in low fevers. The oil has been employed in diseases 
of the heart. Who knows but that in a very short time our native 
shrubs will not only supply all our medicinal wants, but furnish 
material for exportation, and that our sassafras will prove almost as 
valuable a curative agent in certain ailments as the far-famed chincona of 
the Peruvian Andes. This small tree near us, with its handsome white 
flowers and dark sap-green foliage, the leaves small, and the branchlets 
thorny ; what is it ? This, my friend, is the Kangaroo thorn, Bursana 
Spinisa, here attaining great luxuriance. From yon tree whose trunk is 
fully one foot in diameter, a large quantity of acetic acid could be 
obtained by distillation. The wood is close-grained, whitish, and takes a 
fine polish. This tree is found in many parts of Australia, but flourishes 
best on the limestone formations. Now that we have lunched and found 
that the sassafras imparts an agreeable flavour to the tea, let us proceed up 
this gully from Bindi Creek towards the Nunenyong range, noting as we 
travel along any alterations in the rocks. By-and-by we will examine the 
various species of plants that occur at different elevations on the limestones 
and adjoining rock masses. 
