116 
4. Chemical Notes on Eucalyptus Manna. 
It is a crumbly white substance (which turns cream-coloured on keeping), of a 
very pleasant, sweet taste, and in much request by the aborigines and small boys. The 
latter make a toffee from it. It is in small pieces, about the size of peas, but of irregular 
flattened shape. In appearance it very much resembles lime which has naturally 
crumbled or slacked by exposure to a moist atmosphere. 
So far, analyses have been made of manna authenticated as from E. viminalis, 
E. rubida, and E. puiictata. Their composition appears to be identical, and to consist 
mainly of Raffinose (Melitose). 
1. Passmore states that the first reference to Eucalyptus manna was made by 
Virey in 1832. This is presumably a chemical reference, and is Journ. de Pharm. (2), 
xviii, 705, which I have not seen. I do not therefore know whether it is the same 
48 a paper with a German title by the same author (quoted by Ebert). " Manna von 
Hedysarum Alhagi" (Buchner's N. Repert, i, 32, s. 201). 
Then we have 
2. T. Thomson, " Chemistry of Organic Bodies. Vegetables." At p. '640 is an 
account of Australian manna. 
But there is a tree in New South Wales, the Eucalyptus mannifera [see E. rubida. J.H.M.] which, 
according to Dr. Mudie, yields a manna exactly similar to that of the (Fraxinus) Ornus. It is now imported 
from Botany Bay for medical purposes. [I believe this to be quite incorrect, except as regards small 
quantities, because of the distance from Sydney and the sparseness of the population. J.H.M.]. 
At p. 642 Dr. Thomson goes on to say- 
About the year 1815 specimens of a sweet substance were obtained from Botany Bay. They were 
snow-white, in the form of tears, and had obviously dropped in a liquid state from some vegetable . . . 
Some bushels of it might have been collected. 
This substance is probably from E. rubida from the Bathurst district, opened 
up about 1815. 
Dr. Thomson obtained crystals on boiling both European manna and Australian 
manna in boiling alcohol and cooling. " The crystals are white and have the form of 
four-sided needles." Perhaps he was repeating Virey's experiments. 
Then we have 
J. W. F. Johnston-" On the sugar of the 'Eucalyptus." Mem. Chem. Soc., 
i, 159 (1843). Read before the Chemical Society, 20th December, 1842. 
" On the sugar of the Eucalyptus." Phil. May. (2nd scr.), xxiii, 14 (1843). 
Examination of a manna from Tasmania. Same as the preceding. 
" Ueber den Xucker von Eucalyptus." Joiim. fur prakt. Chemie, xxix, 485. 
A translation of the preceding. 
This nuMuisi wjis from K. eimiiuil-is, and Johnston extracted a crystalline 'sugar 
from it. * 
