[Editor: This untitled letter to the editor, from J. C. White, regarding the medicinal properties of gum from spotted gum trees, was published in The Courier (Brisbane, Qld.), 2 September 1862.]
[Spotted gum tree gum]
Sir, — The discovery of the medicinal property of the gum alluded to in your issue of this day, is nothing new.
Shortly after my arrival in the colony in 1831, I was attacked with dysentery, which assumed a chronic form, and I suffered for a long time. I was ultimately cured with a course of gum preparations. It was the spotted gum of Australia, which is far more efficacious than the red gum.
I was then under the treatment of Mr. John Edward Stacy, now practising at Toowoomba, and I know that he tried many of the colonial gums, being well aware of their stringent properties.
I may add that the aborigines of Australia are also in the habit of eating the spotted gum tree gum, when suffering from diarrhoea.
Dr. Stacy also grew opium, and sent a sample to England in 1831, which was declared to be equal to any Turkey opium. This drug, and also ginger, were produced in perfection at Port Stephens as far back as 1831, and there is no reason whatever why they should not be grown here, and made articles of export.
The juice, or gum, from the spotted gum tree, is very astringent, and particularly nauseous.
Yours obediently,
J. C. WHITE.
Brisbane, 29th August.
Source:
The Courier (Brisbane, Qld.), 2 September 1862, p. 2, column 4
Editor’s notes:
The untitled article that this letter refers to, was published in the same newspaper on 29 August 1862.
See: “[An Australian in London at the present time]”, The Courier (Brisbane, Qld.), 29 August 1862, p. 2
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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