A NEW USE FOR BLUE GUM LEAVES.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2303, 23 September 1870, Page 2

A NEW USE FOR BLUE GUM LEAVES.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. Dr Lorinser, of Vienna, gives in the Wmrr Mctlizinischc. Wochcuscbr-ft for May, the results of a number of observations made regarding the effect of a new remedy for intermittent fever. The remedy is the tincture of the leaves of the Eucalyptus globulus, a plant of the natural order Myrtac.e. In 1859, Dr Lorinser made some experiments, the result of which he published; but be was brought to a standstill by the want of a supply for medicine. The plant has since been cultivated by Herr Lamatsch, an apothecary ; and a sufficient quantity of tincture has been made from the leav(S to sppply a number of medical men in the districts of Thcjss and Danube, and in the Bauat, The records of fifty r thj;ee cages of intermittent fever in which the eucalyptus was administered have been communicated to Dr Lorinser ; and he gives very brief outlines of each, with the following summary of results obtained. Of the fifty-three patients, forty-three were completely cured ; in five, there was relapse, in consequence of a fadure of the supply of the tincture of eucalyjMs, and quinine had to be employed. Two of the cases were not true ague. In one case, neither the eucalyptus nor quinine cured ; in one, the medicine (as well as other remedies) was vomited ; and in one, the patient would not allow the treatment to be continued. In olsvcn of the cases, quinine had been used without effect; and nine of these were cured by the eucalyptus. There was return of the fever in ten cases, at intervals varying from one to four weeks ; in five of these quinine had to be used in consequence of there being no tincture of eucalyptus, and in the other five the eucalyptus was su-.-cessfuly employed. The tincture is said to be easily made, an 1 to have a pleasant aromatic taste. It acts favorably on the digestive organs. Dr Lorin er believes that in it wc have a valuable remedy for intermittent fever. It may be so ; but considering the comparative failure of the substances which have been hitherto recommended as substitutes for chinchona and quinine, still more extended and careful observation will be necessary, the British Medical Journal thinks, before recog ising ihe claims of the Eucalyptus globulus to rank as an antiperiodic on which dependence can bo placed. The districts which Dr Lorinser has chosen for testing the effect of the remedy are, wc believe, well fitted for the purpose—intermittent fever being very prevalent in them.