Eucalyptus globulus

Volume II — Main text

EUCALYPTUS. Eucalyptus glóbulus, Labill. Australian gum tree. Nat. Ord., Myrtacea. I. Provings.-1 . Dr. D-, man of 26, took, May 10th, 1873, 10 dr. in halt a glass ofwater. Inh. sensation in stomach as if too full, not much pain, lasting about 1h. During whole e. eructations tastingofdrug. At9.30 p.m. repeated dose ; no new symptoms save uneasy sensation in umbilicalregion. 12th.-At 7.30 a.m., 10 dr.; in h. same sensations as before, but extending farther through bowels ; skirmishing aching pains in upper bowels, with feeling as if diarrhea was impending ; dull feelinginhead; head; eyes hot, burning and smarting; some stiffness of nose. Repeated dose 3 times in d. without new symptoms, save that after last he felt some

fulness and soreness in throat on swallowing, and burning there; eyes same; feels as though he had taken cold. 13th.-Took 10 dr. at 7.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m., 20 dr. at 6.30 p.m. On getting up in m. (still catarrhal), sharp aching pains in lower bowels, with thin, watery,yellow diarrhea. In e. fulness and pressure in stomach. During afternoon constant sensation as of phlegm in throat, and expectoration of moderate quantity of slightly thick white frothy mucus; examinationshowed relaxed, aphthous condition. 14th.-No medicine; catarrhal symptoms disappear. 15th.- At noon, 30 dr. Same full, uncomfortable sensation in stomach as if too much had been taken ; burning in eyes begins again. At 6.30 pm., and again at 7 and 12 next m. repeated dose. Same feeling in stomach, and no stool this m. After dinner, considerable sharp aching pain in hypogastric region ; eructations as before; some burning in stomach. Doses repeated at 6 and 11 p.m. produced nothing fresh. 17th.- 30 dr. at 7, 12, and 6.30. Cold returns again, some coryza, burning of eyes, general full feeling of head, dull and sleepy, dull frontal headache, eyelids heavy. About 20 m. after dinner, peculiar sensation of faintness and " goneness " at stomach, with distinct sensation ofbeating, synchronous with heart. This feeling continued at times all afternoon and next forenoon. Proving now discontinued. Since then some irregularity of bowels and lack of prompt digestion. (Trans. ofAm. Inst. of Hom., 1873, p. 370.) 2. Mrs. D- took tinct. in 5 dr. doses at different times, taking it 3 and 4 d. each time. Did not think it had any effect; but inquiry ascertained that each time she had cold in head, and a thin diarrhea, accompanied by aching (rather sharp) -pains running through bowels, particularly in m. (Ibid.) 3. Eucalyptol depresses temperature of healthy body more thanquinine. Adose of120dr. reduced that of aman by 9° F., and that too in e.,when it would naturally have risen. Four doses of 20 dr. taken at intervals of rh. did not impair appetite but produced a sort of drunkenness, which in ½ h. passed into mental depression and exhaustion lasting for several h. (SIEGEN, Lond. Med. Record, ii, 71.) 4. Eucalyptus and its oil have a warm camphoraceous taste, and increase the salivary and intestinal secretion, producing copious and soft motions, while larger doses excite diarrhea, and stools smell of eucalyptol. The active principles are readilydissolved; they increase the heart's action, accelerate the respiratorymovements, eucalyptol acts and lower arterial tension. E. excites perspiration. In large doses eud on the kidneys like turpentine, copaiba and cubebs. (RINGER, op. cit.) 5. a. Dr. FAWCETT , of Australia, put 20 leaves into a pint of water, and allowed it to simmer until thequantitywas reduced to one half; ofthis he took a tablespoonful 3 or 4 times a d. After using it regularly for several d., its influence showed itself in eruptions on the skin of a herpetic character, inglandular enlargement, and in the development of foul and indolent ulcers. Next in order was felt tenderness and burning sensation in stomach and bowels, with great heat in rectum, followed by tenesmus with discharge of mucus and great prostration. Violent purgation and hæmorrhage from the bowels ensued, and a suspension of the experiments became necessary. Having recruited his strength, he repeated his dailydoses of a decoction of the leaves, and soon experienced pains of a stitching,jerking, tearing character, worse at n. He also again felt the burning sensation in the epigastric and umbilical regions which he had previously noticed, together with tormenting thirst, faintness, vertigo, dimness of vision, sense of fulness in head with dull frontal headache, and tightness across bridge of nose as if profuse epistaxis would set in. In both upper and lower extremities pricking sensations were first noticed, followed by painful aching, with sense of fulness inveins, and a stiff, weary sensation as if too lazy to move. Experiment was again discontinued. On renewing it 4months later, similar eruptionsagain recurred, together with swellings in different parts of body. One, below r. nipple, about size of filbert, was seat of stabbing and darting pains. It remained upwards of 2 months, and phytolacca had to be taken to remove it. b. Dr. F- was requested to see a lad of 13, who appeared to be suffering from rheumatic fever. The usual remedies were of no service. On more closely examining the boy's condition, he found many nodular swellings over the metacarpal and meta. tarsal joints. He could neither walk nor carry anything without greatpain. Noticing a similarity to the symptoms the eucalyptus had produced on himself, he found that the lad had eaten largely of the gum and had chewed many leaves. Dr. F-believes that his symptoms were entirelydue to the action of the E. (Monthly Hom. Rev., xviii, 90.)