13 
the carbonic acid in the blood and diminish its 
oxygenation owing to the depressing effect of the 
oil on the system, and the withdrawal of oxygen. 
The action of the eucalyptus oil on the nerrous 
system is discussed in the seventh part of the 
essay. Like many other volatile oils, particularly 
that of turpentine, so also the eucalyptus oil 
exercises a paralysing effect on the spinal column , 
The brain is brought into a less active state, 
followed by mental indifference ; even the jacta- 
tion observed as the effect of large doses of the 
oil is merely to be regarded as the expression of 
discomfort. Spasmatic effects are not caused by 
this remedy. [Indeed, this oil, like that of 
cajuput, must be regarded as an anti-spasmodic 
when administered in moderate doses.] Small 
mammals become paralysed from the mere inha- 
lation of the oil according to Gimbert. For 
shewing to what extent the reflex irritability can 
be reduced by eucalyptol and eucalyptus oil, 
Grisar* and subsequently Schulz counteracted 
with it the effect of brucin : thus, a rabbit, which 
received first a subcutaneous injection of euca- 
lyptus oil and an hour afterwards one of brucin 
had only slight spasms, from which it recovered 
in the course of the day without impairment of 
the respiration during all the time ; while another 
rabbit to which the same quantity of brucin was 
subcutaneously administered died from tetanic 
Inaugural dissertation, Bonn, 1873, 
