Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3153, 27 March 1879, Page 4

Medical A CONTROVERSY SETTLED. TRUTH TRIUMPHANT. EUCALYPTI OIL. LET the Publio 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 OP THE OIL'S DISCOVERY. The Australian anti-fever tree —that is the blue gum, or eucalyptus gldhulus —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 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 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 peoplp. This fact is now recognised by all the Bcientists 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 Bosisto, who over a dozen yearß since produced and exhibited in Dublin a tannate liquor resenoid of the tree. This, however, was but the first step. The 11 nature of the liquor would not permijt of its [ I general use. 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 such as could ever become a public favorite, and it has been reserved for a firm known as SAKDEB AHD SONS, SANDHUBST,_ to purify and bring before the public jn a form that is PUBE, ESSENTIAL, AND VOLATILE, 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 I note how this has, in successive stages, been 0 brought before the public. On the 27th of r July, 1876, the Bendigo Advertiser wrote as 1 follows, quoting a % TESTIMONY FBOM A GEKMAN TJSIVEESITY. 9 New Local Indtjstey.—At the erection of t the dye works 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. 1 Messrs Sander and Sons, concluding upon the 1 fact that the planting of the Australian gum c in America and other countries where fevers :. are prevailing, prevented partially the spread 1 of such fevers, manufactured about a year ago 8 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* 3 gation are the moßt favorable that could be 9 expected as to the sanative power of that » product. The correspondent's letter to Messrs ■ Sander and Sons Bays, concerning the mutter : 3 "We found the essential oil enclosed unsuiv ' passed by any known remedy in" all cases of b wounds, burns, or cancerous wounds, inflammation, and in all diseases of the skin, and are of opinion that the oil will be exclusively 3 applied to diseases of the said kind aa soon at i it can be got. We conclude further, from a 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. Repeated strong inhaling of the smelling vapor in 1 cases of colds, 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 ol the sick room or house, in evaporating clear tha 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." The recommendation from the German University is a strong 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 sent samples to the various hospitals in Victoria. ' TWO SOBTS OF 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, aa well as a grosser material that must noi be confounded with it. Apparently not recognising this, Mr Bosisto wrote to the Bendigo Advertiser in reference to the above as follows:—"Sir, —l observe in your ießue of the 27th instant, a notice under the heading CA 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 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 Great Britain j and moreover that in many museums of Germany, France, Italy, Spoin, India, America and Great Britain, are to be seen not only specimens of 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 from the correspondent of Germany is merely language rehabilitated from my own writings. —I am repectfully yours, JOSEPH BOSISTO, Richmond, 27th July, 1876." The reply to the above letter came promptly and Bharply from the new manufacturing firm, who wrote the very next day (August 1) to the editor of the same paper i—" Sir, — Your issue of the 31st instant contains a letter from Mr Joseph Boeisto, of Richmond, treating upon our correspondence received from Germany, concerning the investigation of two different Forts of oil (eucalypti) forwarded by us to Germany. We are quite at a loss to see the purpose of Mr Bosiato's letter, nnd whatever celebrity he may iyive acquired by his scientific writings about the physical and chemical characters of the eucalypti growing in Victoria, it might be putting too much Eelf confidence in one's self believing that in all parts of the world his writings will be taken 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. Kow we. learn that the second sort of oil (eucalypti^ mentioned near the end of our correspondent's letter is a product of Mr Bosisto's, who must, probably, feel uneasy in seeing it mentioned as inferior to our manufacture. However, Mr Bosisto is no more able to coitend Bgainst factß than anybody else, and after having procured a sample of his manufacture, we tried to dissolve it inspirits of wine, and found—quite in accordance with the information received from