ORIGINAL LECTURE 
035T 
SVOAIiTPTOL i 
The Etherial Oil of the Leaves of Eucalyptus Globulus-Its 
Uses in Medicine and Surgery, 
LOUIS BAUEIi, M. M. 11. C. S., Bag., 
Professor of Surgery in the St. Louis 
College of 
Physicians and Surgeons., Etc. 
Eucalyptus Oil has been known and used as a 
remedial agent in Europe for the last fifteen years. 
Its high price has interfered with its general use, 
and even now, the same cause hinders its rapid 
introduction into practice. Like all powerful 
drugs, it has found its warm advocates and also its 
adversaries. 
at our command on this occasion. We must refer 
those who wish to study the subject ex funde- 
mento to the original work Itself. 
The impression prevails that the tree of Euca- 
lyptus globulus gives protection against malaria. 
Prompted by this idea, the French government has 
commenced its cultivation in the south of France 
and in Algeria, and the Italian authorities have 
adopted similar measures to improve their swamp 
lands. Future observations will decide as to the 
hygienic virtues of this tree. 
But since Eucalyptol has been recognized as a 
more reliable and agreeable, and at the same time 
less -dangerous antiseptic than carbolic acid, and 
since Professor Lister lias emphatically indorsed 
and adopted it, the interest of the profession in all 
relating to it has been com men sn rately increased. 
From a perusal of the. literature of the subject, 
and taking merely the opinions of such writers as 
are favorably impressed with the therapeutic prop- 
erties of Eucalyptus Oil, it would seem that, it 
constitutes one of the most, serviceable remedies 
in the physician's armory. 
My attention was first called to its therapeutic 
virtues hy Professor Hosier, of Germany, and I 
than resolved to enter upon a course of experi- 
meatal investigations. Unfortunately, I have 
been unable to find leisure for the elaboration of 
the subject, and, therefore, I have bad to content 
myself with giving it a trial as opportunity offered. 
On the whole. I can but confirm the observations 
of Hosier and others, and must confess that T am 
most favorably impressed with the action of this 
drug. 
In the Eropean markets several qualities of the 
oil are offered for sale, all more or less impure. 
Some of them had to be prepared for use byre-dis- 
tillation. Cloez subjects the crude article first to 
the action of caustic potash and a solution of cal- 
cium chloride, and subsequently to distillation. 
The result is a colorless, transparent, oily fluid, 
with an aromatic odor. Its specific gravity is 
0.905; it boils at 170 to 175° F. The substance 
thus prepared be called “Eucalyptol,” by which 
term it is now generally known in Europe. 
Although I have failed to carry my original de- 
sign into effect, I will do the next hest, hy ac- 
quainting you with results of the latest investiga- 
tions into the subject in foreign lands. 
Dr. Hugo Schultz* of the university of Bonn, 
in Prussia, has just published a pamphlet on “Eu- 
calyptus Oil. ” He has not only collected the lit- 
erature on the subject, but be has gone over the 
entire field with that thoroughness which is pecu- 
liar to the German mind. In addition, he has in- 
stituted numerous experiments to elucidate the 
action of this substance. By the aid of this liter - 
ary auxiliary, I am enabled to render you cognizant 
of all which is thus far known about the subject. 
I am pot aware that any brand of the article has 
been imported into the United States other than 
that of Sander & Sons, of Sandhurst, Australia. 
The Eucalyptus is indigenous to that part of the 
world, and grows there in great profusion. The 
article furnished by this firm, corresponds exactly 
in its chemico-physical properties to the Bucalyp- 
tol of Cloez, and it is this importation that I have 
employed in my clinical tests. 
The author devotes more time and space to the 
physico-chemical characters of the oil than we have 
With the view of ascertaining the physiological 
effects of Eucalyptol, Gimbert, Seitz, Siegan, 
Schultz, and others have taken ascending doses of 
the article; Schultz as much as ten grins. (= two 
and a-half fluid drachms) at one time. 
«Das Encalyptnsoel pharmalogisch und klinisch 
dargistellt. Bonn; Cohn & Sohn, 1881. 2 
LECTURE ON EUCALYPTOL, 
Eucalyptol never interfered with digestion, ex- 
cepting acting as an appetizer.* Only exception- 
ally it produced ephemeral nausea; soon after it 
was taken, a sensation of heat was experienced in 
the mouth, fauces, pharynx, and in the stomach, 
followed by dryness. A constant effect was a cer- 
tain by no means disagreeable lassitude and irre- 
futable drowsiness. The sleep following was 
quiet and refreshing, and susceptible of interrup- 
tion. For hours afterwards the breath was redo- 
lent with the peculiar aromatic odor of the drug, 
and the urine had the odor of violets. No albumi- 
nuria was to be detected. 
The temperature under the action of Eucalyj/tol. 
—Gimbert and Siegau claim that animal heat is 
reduced by this agent. This has been proven ex- 
perimentally—by Siegan upon himself. Between 
1:45 and 6 oclock P. M., he took one hundred drops 
of the oil. The physiological rise of six-tenths of 
a degree (C.) not only did not occur, bat there was 
a fall of two-tenths of a degree below the normal 
standard. The total reduction, therefore, amounted 
to eight-tenths of a degree. A second experiment 
exhibited a depression of six-tchths of a degree. 
According to Siegan, quinine falls short of Such- 
lyptol in this regard. These observations have 
been confirmed by Lieberraeister* and Jurgensen** 
The former administered a dose of quinine of 2.4 
grains ( 3i' grains), producing all the collateral 
symptoms usual to the action of this drug, but no 
reduction of the temperature after seven hours. 
The latter observed no change in the bodily heat 
alter the administration of 7.2 grams (“- 111 grains ) 
of quinine, given in solution within thirty-two 
hours. Wachsmuthf makes a similar statement. 
The comparative experiments, made by Schultz, 
upon six rabbits, are entirely confirmatory of those 
referred to; while the temperature was kept below 
the normal in three which had received subcutane- 
ous Injections of half a gram ( 7or 8 drops) of 
Eucalyptol. 
The concentrated alcoholic tincture of Eucalyp- 
tus leaves was taken by Seitz in drachm doses. 
It increased the temperature of the body, and 
•eventually gave rise to slight perspiration. The 
head felt heavy and as if a hand encircled it 
tightly. The secretion of mucus was augmented 
In the mouth and pharynx, followed by eructations 
and dryness. No derangement of digestion was 
noticed, nor was there any material increase in the 
■secretion of urine. 
The elimination of the oil is principally effected 
by the lungs and bowels; it may take several days 
before the Eucalyptol disappears from the breath 
or stools. The skin and kidneys are engaged only 
remotely in its removal from the body. Sometimes 
artificial heat must he applied before the violaceous 
odor becomes noticeable. 
Effects of Eucalyptol upon the organic elements 
of the blood.—On exposing the blood of the frog 
to the vapors of Eucalyptol, the following changes 
are observed to take place under the microscope; 
Increasing clearness of the nuclei of the red cor- 
puscles, radial folding of the protoplasm from the 
nucleus towards the periphery; gradually the ceil 
elongates, when isolated, and assumes the shape of 
a rhombus; when grouped, they appear as if con- 
verted into endothelium. A small drop of Euca- 
lyptol placed upon the edge of the slide destroys 
the corpuscles hut leaves the nuclei. 
One case, however, is mentioned ‘by Mees, in 
which alhuihen was discharged under the use of 
Eucalyptol in malaria, in this instance, albumi- 
nuria may have pre existed; and this symptom may 
be attributed more rationally to the disease than 
to the therapeutic agent employed. 
Some experiments have been instituted with 
reference to the external effects of the oil. They 
all show that the drug produces an irritating action 
upon the healthy epidermis. The raw oil causes a 
burning sensation, erythema and blisters; the Eu- 
calyptol produces no burning, only a slight redden 
mg of the skin, and miliary eruption, which man- 
ifestations very gradually. 
Dr. Schultz noticed a consecutive effect for 
which he can offer no explanation, viz: Fourteen 
days after the termination of the cutaneous 
changes evoked by the oil, be observed upon him- 
self a new erythema over the chest which recurred 
every evening, gradually spreading along the 
course of the lymphatics (like erysipelas), towards 
the hack and down the inner aspect of the thighs, 
where it became fixed and covered with acneform 
pustules. These singular phenomena diedbut by 
degrees in about four weeks. 
liabbit blood is darkened by Eucalyptol, and the 
corpuscles are rendered uneven (crenated) at their 
edges. The spectroscope reveals (1) a marked dif- 
ference between the blood of cold, and warm- 
blooded animals. The blood of frogs poisoned by 
Eucalyptol, exhibits the stripes of oxyhsemoglohin, 
while the blood of mammals, mixed with a trifling 
amount of the same substance, soon turns dark 
and coagulates. 
Schlaeger states that the action of Eucalyptol 
obliterates all apparent differences between arterial 
and venous blood; according to this observer, arte- 
rial blood immediately loses its bright color when 
shaken up with Eucalyptus oil. (2) The effects of 
Eucalyptol upon the white corpuscles arc more 
♦Archive f. Klin, Med. 1876. 
♦♦Die Korperwarme, etc., Leipzig, 1878. 
tArchiv cl. Heiiknnde, 1863. 
♦Eructations, however, followed, sometimes per- 
sisting for four hours. LECTURE ON EUCALYPTOL. 
3 
prominent. Both Mees and Binz have obtained 
the same results in this regard. The former im- 
mediately annihilated the contractility of these 
cells by the addition of one-tenth of one per cent, 
of Eucalyptol, and in fifteen minutes, by one-fif- 
teenth of one per cent. Artificial heat failed to 
revive them. In this particular, Eucalyptol pro- 
duces the same effects upon the leucocytes as qui- 
nine. 
—The general effects of this agent upon the nerv- 
ous system are obviously depressing. It reacts 
upon the spinal cord when given in small quanti- 
ties, and its action extends to the brain only when 
large doses are employed. Motor apathy and in- 
disposition to mental efforts are the inseparable 
results of the large doses in man. In animals, 
the effects are still more pronounced. Paralysis 
of motion supervenes, the vital functions grow 
weaker, and death ensues from sheer exhaustion. 
Gimbert affirms that the mere inhalation of Euca- 
lyptol vapors produced paralysis in certain of the 
lower animals. Grisar and Schultz have furnished 
the most striking proofs of its paralyzing effects 
upon the reflex centers of the nervous system, by 
their experiments with brucine, the alkaloid of 
the St. Ignatius bean. This substance causes te- 
tanic spasms of all the voluntary muscles which 
terminate only in death when it is administered in 
comparatively small doses. But if Eucalyptol has 
previously been injected the brucine develops only 
slight manifestations, and the animals experi- 
mented upon recover their full motor powers. In- 
troduced in this way, the two drugs antagonize 
each other. Since Eucalyptol is absorbed but 
slowly, it is probably not available as an antidote 
in brucine poisoning. 
Another very interesting experiment was made 
by Mees. He exposed the mesentry of a cnrarized 
frog to the vapor of Eucalyptol. The circulation 
remained normal. After twenty-four, and even 
forty-three hours, there was no inflammation, nor 
was there any collection of white blood-corpuscles 
upon the walls of the vessels, nor any emigration 
of them; Whereas, all these pathological changes 
were observed in other frogs prepared in the same 
way except the exposure to the action of this 
agent. These observations have been fully verified 
by Binz. Consequently Eucalyptol possesses 
most valuable virtues as an anti-phlogistic and as 
a powerful restraint upon suppuration. 
The action of Eucalyptol upon the spleen.—The 
analogy between the actions of Eucalyptol and 
quinine, has induced Hosier to test its efficacy in 
reducing the volume of the spleen. His anticipa- 
tions were fully realized. in his experiments he 
made use of the extract of the leaves, by the month 
and subcutaneously. He selected dogs as subjects, 
opened the abdominal cavity and took acurate 
measurements. During these experiments, the 
spleens were measured every hour. In four of 
these tests, the results were proportionate to the 
amount of the drug employed. That is to say, the 
size of the organ decreased in all its dimensions, 
its substance became denser and firmer, the surface 
assumed a slate color and more or lees covered 
with granulations, some of them as large as len- 
tils. Hosier has elicited the same changes by the 
use of quinine in a similar manner. Other exper- 
iments have verified these observations. 
Eucalyptol in Pyaemia and Septicmnia.—lo. the 
present state of our knowledge, we have to assume 
that the presence of micro-organisms in the body 
is the essential cause of pathological increase of 
animal heat. In a way, not as yet fully under- 
stood, the micro-organisms prompt the body to 
peculiar reactive efforts. All the vital functions 
become excessive. Oxidation of tissues goes on 
rapidly, and the powers of life are rapidly con- 
sumed in the struggle to eliminate the noxious in- 
vaders. 
The remedies administered for the purpose of 
arresting the excessive and dangerous oxidation, 
are known as antiseptics. The action of Encalyp- 
toi places it in the front rank of this class of ther- 
apeutic agents; not only on account of its action 
upon the general system, reducing the intensity 
of all those functions which are exci ted in the prog- 
ress of pysemia and septiefemia, but still more by 
reason of its specific destructive effects upon mi- 
cro-organisms. 
Action of Eucalyptol upon the heart, blood-ves- 
sels and respiration.—Numerous experiments by 
Schlaeger clearly demonstrate that the action of 
the heart and the blood-pressure are diminished 
by Eucalyptol, not only in man and in the mam- 
malia generally, but likewise in the amphibia. In 
a frog, for instance, the action of the heart was re- 
duced by the subcutaneous injection of one centi- 
gram (1-6 of a grain), from 18 per minute, at 10:37 
o'clock A. M., to 8 beats per minute, at 4P. M.; 
respiration having come to a stand-still while the 
heart was still contracting 28 times to the minute. 
Its action upon the heart and lungs explains the 
conversion of arterial into venous blood under its 
use. 
The correctness of this proposition has been 
verified by appropriate experiments. Siegan has 
furnished the first proof in this regard. He in- 
jected thirty grammes (nearly an ounce) of pus 
in the circulation of a rabbit, and Eucalyptol in 
the same manner at the same time. There was 
no rise o! temperature; on the contrary, while a 
rise of one and three-tenths degrees (C.) was oh' 
served in another rabbit, into which the same 
quantity of the same pus, ;without Eucalyptol, had 
Action of Eucalyptol upon the nervous system. 4 
LECTURE ON EUCALYPTOL. 
been injected, Similar results were, obtained, by 
the use of other morbid ferments, with and with- 
out Eucalyptol. 
Diphtheria has been successfully treated by Pro- 
fessor Moeler, in- which affection it acts both as an 
antiseptic and restrainer of suppuration. 
Moes and Schultz confirm the antiflbrilc action 
of Eucalyptol by their experiments with putrid 
materials. When Eucalyptol is brought into con- 
tact with organic substances, their normal organ- 
ization remains unchanged, in spite of conditions 
favorable to decomposition being furnished. Mus- 
cular fibril!®, after twenty days, exhibited their 
normal striations. Three hundred parts of blood 
with only one part of Eucalyptol added, remained 
unchanged for ten days; the same quantity with- 
out Eucalyptol was putrid 'and decomposed in the 
same time under otherwise the same conditions. 
French physicians speak well of Eucalyptol in 
various affections of the lunge, such as asthma, 
chronic catarrh, pulmonary gangrene, etc.; but 
we abstain from entering into further details be- 
cause of lack of space. 
If we succeed in engaging the attention of the 
American profession to such a degree as to secure 
for Eucalyptol a fair test of its Virtues at the bed- 
side we shall he amply repaid for our humble la- 
bors. The remedy must stand on its own merits. 
We should never have devoted our time to its com- 
mendation hud we not ourself derived good ser- 
vice from its use, and had not men spoken in its 
praise whose labors for scientific advancement en- 
title their utterances to the highest consideration. 
We conclude our discourse with a few suggestions 
as the form of its application and administra- 
tion : 
Mees experimented with cultivated bacteria and 
concluded that Eucalyptol occcupi.ee the highest 
position among antiseptics. 
Schultz compared the action of Eucalyptol and 
carbolic acid upon iibrine mixed with distilled 
water. On the eighteenth day, that mixed with 
Eucalyptol was preserved in its normal condition, 
while the presence of carbolic acid had not pre- 
vented putrescent decomposition. The same au- 
thor has kept a mixture of fihrine in an emulsion 
of Eucalyptol In his room for a year without no- 
ticeable change. A great number of experiments 
have been instituted by various authors, winch we. 
omit, inasmuch as they all confirm the demonstra- 
tions cited of the superior antiseptic virtues of 
Eucalyptol over phenol, quinine and other anti- 
ferments. 
Eucalyptus Oil may be given in doses of from 
five to twenty drops, on sugar, or dissolved in al- 
cohol, or in emulsion with gum arable, syrup and 
water. 
Externally it may be applied in substance, with a. 
camel's hair brush, or its vapor may be obtained 
by pouring it on a warm plate; in solution with 
alcohol; or in emulsion. 
As an injection in gonorrhoea, Mr. W. W. 
Chaync uses an emulsion made with one ounce 
each of Eucalyptol and gum arable in thirty or 
forty ounces of water, the injection to he used four 
or five times daily (vide Clinical Kkcoro for Sep- 
tember, 1?80). 
Therapeutic Availability of Eucalyptol,-—All,an- 
tiseptics have their special fields of usefulness, be- 
yond which their action falls to be serviceable. 
Clinical observations demonstrate the benefits of 
Eucalyptol in infectious fevers, and in wounds and 
ulcerations with decay Of organic structure. Its 
action upon the white blood corpuscles, indicates 
Us power to restrain suppuration. 
Mr. Lister uses Eucalyptol with Dammar gum 
in the preparation of his “antiseptic gauze,” and 
a solution of the oil with alcohol and water, in 
place of the old carbolized solutions, in the latest- 
form of his “antiseptic dressing.” It has never 
induced any dangerous symptoms. 
In the treatment of malarial fevers, Eucalyptol 
has already acquired a good reputation. While 
Professor Kosenstein prefers quinine in all recent 
cases, he admits its value in chronic forms—par- 
ticularly in those which are known as “dumb 
ague,” and which are complicated with enlarged 
spleen. Other authors state that Eucalyptol has 
been of service in cases which quinine and arsenic 
In bronchial and laryngeal affectations, it may be 
used freely by inhalation, either alone or with the 
vapor of water. 
In diphtheria and chronic pharyngeal catarrh, it 
may be used in the form of a. spray, #or applied di- 
rectly to the fauces by means of a brush. 
had failed to relieve. 
St. Louis, 519 Pine Street.