Synonym. Eucalyptus Globulus. Natural order. Myrtaceae. Common names. Fever Tree. Australian Gum Tree. Blue Gum Tree. Habitat. A tree native of Australia, and cultivated on the Pacific coast. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh leaves.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts upon the digestive sphere, producing indigestion, followed by diarrhoea, all the secretions having the characteristic odor of eucalyptol, the most important constituent of the drug. It also increase the action of the heart, lowers the arterial tension, and induces a feverish state, the conditions of which correspond to fever of a remittent or intermittent character, and which result from malarial poisoning. It is, therefore, homoeopathic to these conditions, which account for its remarkable success in their treatment at the hands of physicians of all schools during the post fifty years.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Head. Nervous headaches and other pains in the head, not exactly periodical.
Nose. Catarrh of the nasal passages (Hydras. Kali bichromicum).
Eyes. Catarrhal ophthalmia.
Mouth. Burning sensation extending to pharynx and oesophagus with thirst. Excessive secretion of saliva (Iodi., Mercurius, Nitr. ac.).
Stomach. Strong-smelling eructations. Slow digestion. Hot, burning sensation in stomach. Fullness, pressure and weight in stomach (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Nux v., Pulsatilla).
Abdomen. Uncomfortable pressure nd fullness in umbilical region. Sensation as if diarrhoea would occur (Aloe.).
Stool. Dysentery, with heat in the rectum; tenesmus; discharge of mucus; great prostration; haemorrhage from the bowels (Hamamelis, Ipecac.). Thin watery diarrhoea, preceded by sharp aching pains in the bowels.
Respiratory Organs. Respiration quickened.
Skin. Eruptions on the skin, of a herpetic character; glandular enlargements; foul, indolent ulcers.
Compare. Absinth., Ars, Baptisia, Carbolicum acidum, Chinch., Ced.
THERAPEUTICS.
Used primarily in the treatment of remittent fevers; malarial poisoning; after quinia fails; quinine cachexias. Malarial fevers do not exist in localities where this tree grows, and it is generally believed that the culture of tree improves to a surprising degree the sanitary conditions of low, marshy, miasmatic district. Chronic nasal catarrh and acute coryza. Always dyspnoea in cardiac asthma, also when aneurisms press on the vagus its branches. Subacute cystitis. Whooping cough; gangrene of the lungs, Bronchitis with profuse expectoration. Also sometimes useful in dysentery; leucorrhoea; eruptions; ulcers; suppurating wounds; neuralgia; rheumatism; typhoid fever. Infusions, or water containing infusoria, crytogamic organisms, and bacteria, are purified by the addition of eucalyptus. On account of these antiseptic properties, the drug has been used topically in uterine catarrh, ozoena, cancer gangrene, etc., when characterized by great foetor.