Document information

Physical location:

GRS 1/1886/765, letters received in the Office of the Minister Controlling the Northern Territory, State Records, Adelaide. 86.08.15a

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to John Cockburn, 1886-08-15 [86.08.15a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/86-08-15a>, accessed September 11, 2025

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On 2 January 1886 Herman Dittrich wrote to the Minister of Education, John Cockburn: 'By this mail I have the honour of forwarding to you a parcel dry plants, containing two separate lots, one, plants collected on the way from the Peake Telegraph-Station to Charlotte waters the other, plants collected on our Finke-River Expedition from the 5 to 23 December [a. pr.] | Be so kind as to send these parcels to the Baron von Mueller K.C.M.G. at Melbourne for classification, who after retaining one specimen of each three collected, will return them to Adelaide. | Amongst these specimens is one large sheet full of venemous [sic] plants which poisoned three of our camels at Stevenson Creek. This plant growing in two specimens, one creeping on sandy flats, the other straight upright on the top of sandhills, is spraid [sic] all over the sand regions on the Macumba, Alberga, Stevenson and Finke-River. Also in the Creek of Charlotte waters I found some specimens. — In its effects this poison seems to be nearly the same as what Mr Ern. Giles describes in his trip through Western Australia, affecting first the hindlegs and then the head of the poisoned animal; only I think it is stronger & more dangerous, as I feel sure, we wouldn't have saved our camels without administering them the only medicine, we had, i.e. Epsom salt mustard & soap in warm water. | It would be highly interesting to have these specimens analyzed and to find an efficient antidote for it. | The season and temperature, although a good many plants are in seeds just now, is not very favorable for collecting. | Most of the specimens are so dry, that it is difficult to gather them without breaking. | Reptils [sic] and geological specimens are too scarce in this country.'
On 21 January Cockburn minuted that Dittrich's letter be forwarded to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Richard Schomburgk, to classify and retain one set of plants — one set also to be sent to M. On 1 February Schomburgk informed the Commissioner of Crown Lands that a set of Dittrich's 'second series of plants' would be forwarded to M 'in the course of the week'. Schomburgk identified the poison plant as the 'well known' Drummond's Spurge Wort, Euphoria drummondii. He observed that the 'other plant which Lieut. Dittrich considers poisonous is harmless' (GRS 1/1886/86, State Records, Adelaide).
Melbourne
15 Aug. 1886.
To the honorable, the Minister of Education, Adelaide.
Sir
I have the honor to inform you, that a moiety of the last botanic sendings of Lt. Dittrich from Mr Lindsay's Expedition
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See H. Dittrich to M, December 1885.
has been forwarded to you now, the plants being all generically and mostly also specifically named, a very few kinds having only been here as yet retained for careful examination.
I deemed it my duty, to send this share of the collection to your Department, as I am not aware, whether the plants are to be deposited in the herbarium of the Adelaide University or botanic Garden. A catalogue is forwarded herewith.
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Catalogue not found.
I have the honor to be,
Sir, your obedient
Ferd. von. Mueller.
These will be five small parcels, which will come consecutively by post during the week. Complete list will follow with the last parcel.
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MS annotation presumably by Cockburn, 21 August 1886: 'Thank Baron Von Mueller for the trouble he has taken in the matter & forward parcels & catalogue on arrival to Mr Schomburgk.' Schomburgk was notified of the arrival of the specimens and catalogue on 26 August 1886.
See also M to J. Cockburn, 5 December 1886.