EUCALYPTUS CIGARS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5399, 4 June 1879, Page 3

EUCALYPTUS CIGARS.

In a late number of the "Practitioner" ther^- is /an -article contributed by Dr Maclean, G. 8., on' the therapeutic power of eucalyptus cigars. Dr Maclean received from Surgeon-Major Mackinnon some leaves of the plant from the South of France, and some cigars made from the leaves, with a request that a trial should be made of them in cases where the use of antispasmodics seemed called for. He accordingly used them in the medical .wards at Notley, in oases of chest aneurisms involving pressure on the vagus or its;branches,, as well as in cardive asthma, with benefit.. The symptoms induced by pressure on the vagus or its branches by aneurisms arising out of the. chest and invading- the neck . are known to be very distressing.- With the exception,- perhaps, of the sub-cutaneous injection of ' morphia; he knew ■ of : no remedy so^ efficacious in allaying pain, relieving dyspnoea, calming irritations, and procuring slefep in sii 6h cases, as to be compared with Eucalyptus globulus. ' He instanced the case :of a patient . who: was . suffering from aneurism of the aorta, situated immediately! behind, the manubrium and the ; „ which: produced so much pressure ;,on the trachea a3 to, flatten out this tube and cause absorption of some of its rings. The man's sufferings were extreme ; for many weeks he was hardly ever observed out of the sitting position, with his head inclining forward in a manner characteristic of aneurisms in this situation. ' The only' relief that could be extended to this, sufferer was by means of the eucalyptus cigars^ which he frequently smok.ed^", under , ihe soothing ' influence of which he was able to get snatches of reat in a recumbent posture. In cardiac a'stjinia equally .favorable results/ were obtained. the,, patient was incapable of smoking the leaf ; aa, a cigar or in a.p ipe, -the terrible dyspnceai.pf r the affection Was delayed by portions of the' 1 leaf in a plate near the patient, in the way nitre paper is familiarly used. Dr Frank' states 1 that a tincture of the leaf is '. made', in Germany, and has been used' successfully in the treatment of intermjttenWevers. j He even asserts, that under its. use relapses do^not occur.; Dr Maclean inclines strongly " to the opinion that the ;action ; of ; Eucalyptus globulus is on the nervous system, particularly the v_ague. : ■ He has never,' Been it cause flushihg.inthe face, warmth of the head, face, or neck which' follows the: inhalation of nitrate of amyl in such cases. The smoking of the leaves of eucalyptus does not induce effects so sudden and striking as those which follow the use of the nitrate of amyl, but it has the advantage of being perfectly safe, so that the patients may be allowed tV use it at' discretion. He had been" told, that asthmatics in the South of France, where the properties of the eucalyptus are known, mix the broken leaves of the plant with their tobacco. He^think's that the. practitioners will _be grateful for an agent that, without risk, cair secure for their -patient some hours .of rest arid ; oblivibh of thieir sufferings, eveu though'it should- prove only a palliative.' — Leader (Melbourne.)