Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3121, 18 February 1879, Page 4

Medical A CONTEOVERSY SETTLED. TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. EUCALYPTI OIL. LET the Public take notice of a few facts put forward for their information in this intimation. They may be worth their study, and repay perusal in enlightening them upon a subject of practical utility. THE HISTQEY OF THE OIL'S DISCOVERY. The Australian anti-fever tree—that is the blue gum, or eucalyptus globulus —has now spread its fame throughout tbe world, but there are many who do nob properly estimate its splendid qualities. It has been estimated that the Australian blue guma, which stud the face of. the colony, contain about .five hundred million gallons of pure volatile oil, that is the mortal foe of fever and ague. Every d»y in the year the forests of the colony are giving out and exhaling, in the form of vapor, an aromatic fragrance to our breezes, and a health-giving essence to our people. This fact is now recognised by all the scientists in the world. Years ago enquiring minds bent their energies to utilise this splendid quality of the blue gum, and bring it into the reach of the public. Amongst these were Mr Boaisto, who over a dozen years since produced and exhibited in Dublin a tannate liquor resenoid of the tree.,. . ' This, hewever, was but the first step. The nature of the liquor would not permit of its general vie. fcince that time it las been somewhat improved, and a species of the eucalyptus oil was some years ago manufactured. Still, the article being of a resinous turpentiny nature, was not such as could over become a public favorite, and it has been reserved for a firm known as SABDEB AND SOBS, SANDHURST, to purify and bring before the public in a form that is PUBE, BSSENTIAIi, AND VQIiATIIiE, a genuine essence of the Australian bluegi m. After years of study they have accomplished this point. This is a fact which is now pact the stage of conjecture. It is interesting to note how. this has, in successive stages, been brought before the public. On the 27th of July, 1876, the Bendigo Advertiser wrote as follows, quoting a TEBTJMOirr TBOM A GERMAN TTNIVEKSITT. New Looai Indtjstby.—At the erection of the dye-works of Messrs Sander and Sons we had occasion to mertion the spirit of enterprise displayed by the firm, and today another opportunity is offered of mentioning their inquiring disposition as to industries. Messrs Sander and Sons, concluding upon the faot that the planting of the Australian gum in America and other countries where fevers are prevailing, prevented partially the spread of such fevers, manufactured about a year ago small quantities of the essential oil of the gum, and forwarded the same for inveutigation to one of the universities of Germany. Now they learn that the results of that invesgation are the most favorable that could be expected as to the sanative power of that product. The correspondent's letter to Messrs Sander and Sons says, concerning the matter : " We found the essential oil enclosed unsur» passed by any known remedy in all cases of wounds, burns, or cancerous wounds, inflammation, and in all diseases of the skin, and are of opinion that the oil will be exclusively applied to diseases of the said kind as soon a* it can be got. We conclude further, frcm the great effect the oil produces in cases of external inflammation; it may be used with the same success in inflammation of the throat, colds, affections of the lungs, etc. Bepeated strong inhaling of the Bmelling vapor in cases of colde, clears the nostrils, and gives immediate relief, and full riddance of the heat. Asa disinfectant in general, it may be said wilhout previous observation that it deserves the preference of any other remedy to purify the air in cases of fever. In that respect it deserves all attention of the medical profession of bur crowded cities, where the wont of space and uninterrupted pretence of Joul air are the everlasting promoters of epidemic diseases. A few drops exposed in open vessels at different places Oi the sick room or house, in evaporating clear the air. The other sample you have forwarded is here already known, and represents more oil-like turpentine lli&n an essential fail. It is not soluble in spirts of wine, as it ought to be if of essential character. In consequence it has no familiarity whatever wil.h your preparation, and is far inferior in value as a Medicament." The recommendation'from the German University is a stiong one, end our medical gentlemen if they choose, can readily i rove its reliability. For this purpose Messrs Sander and Sons are prepared to supply them quantities free of cost. They have already sent samples to the various hospitals in Victoria. TWO SOETB OP Oil. Thus we see there are two distinct kinds of eucalypti oil—the purified and refined article manufactured by Messrs Sander and Sons, of Sandhurst, as well as a grosser material thut must not be confounded with it.. Apparently, not recognising this, Mr Bosisto wrote to the Bendigo Advertiser in reference to the above as follows :—" Sir, —I observe in your ieeue of the 27th instant, a netice under the heading 'A New Local Industry,' at the. dye-works of Messrs Sander and Son, setting forth the new gum oil, together with a report from Germany on its virtues, etc. I desire to inform you that for the patt fifteen years I have described the physical and chemical characters of every gperies of the eucalyptus growing iv Victoria, besides a number of others outside, over and over again, in medical and scientific journals of Victoria and Great Britain ; and moreover that in renny museums, of Germany, Prance, Italy, Bpnn, India, America and Great Britain, are to be seen not onl/specimens of the eucalypti-oils, but many otlier serviceable and utilitarian products irom the whole group of Australian eucalypti, presented, during the psifct fifteen years, by mjself. What appears from the correspondent of Germany is merely language rehnbilitatcd from my own writings. —1 am re}>ectfully yours, Jos*PH Bosisto, Eiohmo.nd, 27th July, 1876.'' The reply to the above letter came promptly and sharply frvm the new manufacturing firm, who wjote tbe very next day (August 1) to the editor of the same paper.—"Sir,— Your issue of tbe 31st instant contains a letter frtm Mr Joseph Boiisto, of Richmond, treating upon our correspondence received from Germany, concerning the investigation of two different sorts of oil (eucalypti) forwarded by us to Germany. We are quite at a loss to see the purpose of Mr Bosieto's letter, and whatever celebrity he may have acquired by his scientific writings about the physical and chemical charactirs of. the eucalypti growing in Victoria, it might be putting too much eelf confidence in ene's self believing that in all parts of the world his writings will be taken notice of. We know that German scientific bodies exanjre all new remedies offered by science ; and then, relying on their own opinions, either approve or reject them. Now we (earn thut the second sort of oil (eucalypti) mentioned near the end of our correspondent's letter -is a product of Mr Bosieto's, who must, probably, /eel uneasy in seeing it mentioned as interior to our munufuctuie. Howcv^ Mr Bosislo is no iiicre nblr lo coi ttnd ogainst facts than anybody elsr, and afl«r hating procured a sample of liis n tnui fixture, we tried to dissolve it in fj'irits of wine, and found—quite in acetidante. with the information received from