472 
Natural  Eucalyptated  Honey. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Sept.,  1887. 
When  passed  through  a  medium  sieve  at  a  temperature  of  68°  F., 
the  honey  presents  the  appearance  of  a  rather  transparent,  syrupy, 
thick,  homogeneous  liquid  of  a  deep  orange  color.  Its  odor,  sui  generis, 
reveals  immediately  its  nature  and  special  composition— plainly  that 
of  the  eucalyptus.  It  is  very  soluble  in  water,  milk,  and  the  native 
wines,  but  much  less  so  in  alcohol.  Its  fermentation  is  very  difficult  on 
account  of  the  large  proportion  of  sugar,  about  612  grammes  to  the 
kilogramme. 
It  contains  to  the  kilogramme,  reducent  sugar  (principally  levulose), 
611.6  gms.,  water  215.6  gms.,  active  principles  (eucalyptol,  eucalyp- 
tene,  terpene,  cymol,  odorous,  resinous  and  coloring  matters),  171 
gms.    Its  density  is  1.44. 
A  striking  fact  is  the  enormous  quantity  of  absolutely  pure  sugar,, 
and  the  contained  active  principles,  giving  the  honey  a  very  con- 
siderable therapeutic  value.  The  eucalyptol  as  extracted  from  this 
honey  is  a  white,  slightly  amber-colored  liquid,  and  almost  opaque. 
The  other  principles  form  a  grey-brown,  opaque  mass  with  a  special 
odor,  which  differs  from  that  of  the  eucalyptol.  An  attempt  to  make 
an  artificial  honey  by  combining  the  principles  in  the  same  propor- 
tion, as  indicated  by  the  analysis,  with  the  honey  of  Narbonne  failed 
entirely. 
In  experiments  upon  animals,  the  honey  produced  a  marked  and 
quite  lasting  reduction  of  temperature.  Upon  man  in  good  health,  it 
produces  the  following  effects :  A  tablespoouful  taken  in  a  little  hot 
water  or  milk  makes  a  delightful  drink ;  a  few  minutes  after  taking  it 
an  agreeable  glow  pervades  the  whole  system.  In  half  an  hour  a  por- 
tion of  the  active  principles  begin  to  be  eliminated  by  the  bronchi 
and  larynx,  and  the  voice  becomes  clearer  and  more  sonorous,  and 
the  breath  perfumed.  It  seems,  also,  that  the  lungs  are  more  elastic, 
more  supple.  If  the  honey  is  continued  in  tablespoouful  doses  four 
times  daily  for  a  week,  the  weight  increases  considerably,  as  also  do 
the  powers  of  endurance  (lung  power).  At  the  same  time,  there  is  a 
slight  diuresis  with  augmentation  in  amount  of  urea,  with  a  pro- 
nounced odor  of  the  urine  like  that  of  the  cassia  rather  than  of  the 
violet. 
Physiological  action. — 1st.  The  natural  eucalyptated  honey  is  a 
valuable  aliment,  containing  as  it  does  612  gms.  per  1,000  of  pure 
sugar,  and  may  replace  cod-liver  oil  in  chronic  bronchial  trouble,  and 
in  scrofulous  and  strumous  troubles.    2nd.  It  is  anti-catarrhal  and  a 
