The Chemistry and the Chemical Exploitation of Western 101 
Australian Plants. 
Extracts of Erodinm cicutarium (L.) L’Her., which have a powerful 
effect on the uterus, resulting in an increase of contractile activity, have 
been used in Europe for arresting uterine haemorrhage. No compound 
with these properties has yet been isolated from the plant. Somewhat simi- 
lar properties are possessed by Adiantum aethiopicum L., extracts of which 
are used by the Sutos for promoting parturition, and by Pteridium aquilinum 
which is used, along with the bulb of V ernonia corymbosa, as an aborti- 
facient. 
Diuretic properties are possessed by Boerhaavia diffusa L., Indigofera 
enneaphylla L. and Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br., while the 
roots of Hybantlms enneaspernms (L.) E. Muell. are used in India for 
treatment of diseases of the urinary tract. Plumbago zeylanica L. and 
Siegsbeckia orientalis L. are recorded as powerful sudorifics, and Erodium 
mosckatum. also possesses diaphoretic and antipyretic properties. 
Thespesia popxdnea (L.) Soland. ex Corr. is used for treatment of skin 
parasites and scabies in India, and in South Africa Cassytha filiformis L. 
is used to eliminate head vermin. Hibiscus trionum L. is employed as a 
remedy for round worms and the use of Cheilanthes hirta for the treatment 
of tape worm suggests that the local representatives of the genus should 
be examined. Hydrocotyle asiatica L. is listed by Hurst (21) as having a 
multiplicity of medicinal uses a few of which would appear to need some 
justification. Cassia mimoscides L. appears to possess sedative properties 
and it is used, in much the same way as hops, as a pillow, or under a 
mattress, to induce sleep. Clematis micro phylla DC. contains irritant sub- 
stances and may be used as a counter-irritant in the form of poultices. 
Reference has already been made to the quick healing properties of the 
oleo-resin in the fruit of Actinostrobus glaucus ; similar properties are 
possessed by the leaves of C ymbonotus Laivsonianus Gaud., which, when 
extracted with lard, give a useful salve for dressing wounds. 
Some lines of investigation which might lead to the recognition of 
useful medicinal plants have already been indicated. Others include the 
examination of the genus Polygala from which senega is obtained, the genus 
Goodenia , some species of which are used by gins for making children 
sleep on long journeys, the genus Haemodorum , some species of which are 
used by natives as purgatives, and likely members of the order Rhamnaceae, 
which might possess barks resembling cascara, and of the order Rubiaceae, 
many of which contain valuable alkaloids. 
IX. WOOD DISTILLATION. 
This review would not be complete without some reference to work 
which has been done on wood distillation. Almond, Holmes and Plant (95) 
have prepared and examined charcoals from dry and green saplings and mat- 
ure trees of Eucalyptus margmata and from E. redwica var. elata, E. salmon - 
ophloia and E. salubris . They have also described (loc. cit.), charcoals pre- 
pared from E. rostrata Schlecht. from Victoria and New South Wales and 
from E. alba from Queensland. It is possible that the latter is identical 
with E. platyphylla F. Muell. The report of the Mines Department for 1940 
contains proximate analyses of specimens of charcoal, obtained from local 
charcoal burners, prepared from E. calo phylla, E. marginal a and E. redunca 
var. elata. Gregson (96), in discussing some aspects of the use of charcoal 
as a fuel in gas producers, has given the results of the analysis of a number 
