C. SUMNER WITFIER STINE, Philadelphia.
EUCALYPTUS.—Eucalyptus U. S. P. is the leaves from the older parts of the Eucalyptus globules labilliardiere. The eucalyptus, or blue-gum tree, is a tall, evergreen tree, a native of Australia, but now grown all over the world. From the leaves the oil of eucalyptus is obtained by distillation, and from this oil by re distillation with caustic potash or cal cium chloride a camphoraceous body is obtained which is known as "eucalyp tol." The latter is the refined product.
It was once thought that as the tree grew easily in marshy districts and drained the soil of water, it would dimin ish the malarial miasm of low swampy regions, and in that way prove a prophy lactic against malaria. Laveran has shown, however, that the organism caus ing malarial troubles is, in all proba bility, taken into the body through the media of food and drink, and that the planting of the eucalyptus-trees does not diminish the paludal fevers. The pre vailing view that mosquitoes are the main intermediaries through which the infec tion occurs also tends to diminish faith in eucalyptus as a prophylactic.
The leaves have a camphoraceous odor and a pungent, bitter taste, and yield a volatile essential oil, the oil of eucalyp tus, which is the active principle. Eucalyptus-oil is a faint-yellow, some times colorless liquid, having a charac teristic aromatic odor and a pungent, cooling taste, and being soluble in alco hol and in bisnlphide of carbon. The value of the oil depends upon the amount of eucalyptol present.
Eucalyptol is a colorless liquid, with strong aromatic camphoraceous odor; is slightly soluble in water, but easily soluble in alcohol, ether, and fatty oils.
By treating oil of eucalyptus with hydrochloric acid Anthoire has obtained a white, micaceous, scaly substance, hy groscopic in nature, called eucalypteol. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, chloro form, and oils, but almost insoluble in water and in glycerin. It is not poison ous, and is tolerated by the stomach.
Preparations and Dose.—Eucalyptus, to 2 drachms. • Extractum eucalypti fluidum, 10 drops to 2 drachms.
Oleum eucalypti, 5 to 20 minims. Encalyptol, 1 to 15 minims. Eucalypteol, 24 grains daily, in di vided doses.
Physiological Action.—Applied exter nally, the oil is a decided irritant, and causes heat and redness of the part, due to dilatation. When inhaled it causes an increase of the saliva and of the bron chial secretion. When taken internally in medicinal doses it produces a feeling of warmth and stimulation, with in creased secretions, while larger doses are productive of disordered digestion, diar rhoea with loose stools having the char acteristic odor of the oil, and symptoms of renal and cerebral congestion and force. The pulse is increased in fre
quency. In larger doses there are no ticed a rapid, weak pulse, general excita tion, and restlessness; decrease of body heat, lower arterial pressure, irregular and weak respirations; muscular weak ness, especially of the lower limbs; and death from respiratory paralysis. The drug is eliminated by the bronchial mu cous membranes, the skin, the kidneys, and the bowels. The urine may have the odor of violets, as noticed after the in gestion of the oil of turpentine. The oil of eucalyptus, like most aromatic oils, is an antiseptic and a germicide, and in sufficient strength it inhibits the growth of micro-organisms in culture-media. Eucalyptus is a powerful diuretic. An increased excretion of urine is said to follow its internal use.
Poisoning by Eucalyptus. — Tonic doses of eucalyptus give rise to the symp toms of gastro-intestinal irritation, renal and cerebral congestion, impaired circu lation, muscular weakness and paralysis, and finally death by respiratory failure.
Cases of poisoning are not frequent.
Case of poisoning in which between 2 and 3 teaspoonfuls of oil of eucalyptus had been swallowed. The severe stupor, myosis, and hypothermia which followed suggested opium poisoning. Stertorous breathing, however, was absent. Recov ery. F. C. Wood (Brit. Med. Jour., Jan. 27, 1900).
Treatment of Poisoning by Eyealyp Itts.—In mild cases the gastro-intestinal symptoms should be ameliorated through the use of morphine, bismuth, lime water, etc. In severe cases, when the circulation and respiration are pro foundly affected, the use of caffeine, strychnine, and atropine by hypodermic injection is advised.
Therapeutics.—Eucalyptus has a se lective action upon the mucous mem branes, being excreted through them. To them it is a stimulant, antiseptic, germicide, and antispasmodic, and we find that its most beneficial action is exerted, therefore, directly upon the gastro-intestinal tract, the bronchial tubes, and the genitourinary tract; in directly upon certain mucous disorders more or less dependent upon the integ rity of tissues and function of those or gans. In general, it is in acute inflammatory conditions.