Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3150, 24 March 1879, Page 4

Medical . A CONTROTERSY 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 HISTORY OF THE OIL'S DISCOVERY. The Australian anti-fever tree —that is the blue gum, or eucalyptus globulus— has now spread its fame throughout the world, but there are many who do not properly estimate its splendid qualities. It has been estimated that the Australian blue gums, which stud ,fche face of the colony, oontain about five rhundrod million,gallons of pure volatile oil) that is the mortal foe of fever and ague. Every day 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. AmoDgst these were Mr Bosisto, who over a dozen years since produced and exhibited in Dablin a tannate liquor resenoid of the tree. _ . This, however, was but the! first step. The nature of the liquor would not permit of its general me. fcince that time it has 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 Buch as could ever become a public favorite, and it has been reserved for a firm known as SAHDEB AMD SONS, SAHDHTJBST, to purify and bring before the public in a form that is . PTTBE, ESSENTIAIi, A5fD VOIATII.E, a genuine essence of the Australian bluegum. After years of study they have accomplished this point. This is a fact which is now past 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 TEBTIMOKI TBOM A GEEMAN UHIVEBSITY. Hew Locai ludtjstby.—At the erection of . the dye workß of Messrs Sander and Sons we had occasion to mention the spirit of enterprise displayed by the firm, and to-day . another opportunity is offered of mentioning their inquiring dispoeition as to industries. Messrs Sander and Sons, concluding upon the fact 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 investigation to one of the universities of Germany. Now they learn that the results of that inves-gation-are the most favorable that could be expected 'as to the sanative power of -that product. The correspondent's letter to Messrs Bander and Sonß says, concerning the matter : '• We found the essential oil enclosed unsurpassed.byany 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 as it can be pot. We conclude further, from the great effect the oil produces in caeeß of external inflammation, it may be used with the same success in inflammation of the throat, colds, affections of the lungs, etc. Repeated ' strong inhaling of the Bmelling vapor in cases of colde, clears the nostrils, and gives immediate relief, and full riddance of the heat. As a disinfectant in general, it may be said without 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 our crowded cities, where the want of space and uninterrupted presence of foul air are the everlasting promoters of epidemic diseases. A few drops exposed in open vessels at different places 6i the sick room or house, in evaporating clear thß air. The other sample you have forwarded is here already known, and. represents more oil-like turpentine than an essential oil. It is not soluble in spirts of wine, as it ought to be if of essential character. In consequence it has no familiarity whatever with your preparation, and is far inferior in value as a medicament.' Ihe recommendation from the German University is a Btrong one/ and our medical gentlemen if they choose, can readily prove its reliability. For this purpose Messrs Sander and Sons are prepared to supply them quantities free of cost. They have already «ent samples to the various hespitali in Yictoiia. TWO SOBTB OP Oil. Thus we see there are two distinct kinds of eucalypti oilr-the purified aod refined article manufactured by Messrs Sander and Sons, of Sandhurst, as well as a grosser material that 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 issue of the 27th instant, a netice under the beading ' 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 th&t for the past fifteen years I have described the physical and chemical characters of every species of the eucalyptus growing in Victoria, besides a number of others outside, over and over again, in medical and scientific journals of Victoria and Greatßritain ; and moreover that in many museums of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, America and Great Britain, are to be seen not only specimens of 1 the eucalypti oils, but many other serviceable , and utilitarian products from the whole group '- of Australian eucalypti, presented, during the past fifteen years, by myself. What appears 1 from the correspondent of Germany is merely language rehabilitated from my own writings. ■ —I am repectfully yours, Jobbph Bosisto, Richmond, 27th July, 1876/'

The reply to the above letter came promptly and sharply from the new manufacturing firm, who wrote the very next day (August 1) to the editor of the same paper. —"Sir,— Your issue of the 31st, instant 'Contains a letter from Mr Joseph Boeisto, of Biebmond, treating upon our correspondence received from Germany, concerning the investigation of two different eorta of oil (eucalypti) forwarded by us to Germany. We are quite at a lobb to see the purpose of Mr Boßisto's letter, and whatever celebrity he may have'acquired by his scientific writings about the physical and chemical characters of the eucalypti growing in Victoria, it might be putting too much self confidence in one's self believing that in all flirts of the world his writings will betaken notice of. We know that German scientific bodies examine all new remedies oflered by science; and then, relying on their own opinions, either approve or reject them. JSow we learn that the second sort of oil (eucalypti) mentioned near the end of our correspondent's letter is a product of Mr Bosisto'a, who must, probably, feel uneasy in seeing it mentioned ub inferior to our manufacture. However, "Mr Bosislo is no more oble to contend against facts than anybody else, and after having procured a sample of his manufacture, we tried to dissolve it in spirits of wine, and found—quite in accordance with tho information received from