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78.01.00

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Ferdinand von Mueller to the Editor of the Australian Medical Journal, 1878-01. 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//letters/1870-9/1878/78-01-00-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
Letter not found. For the text given here, see 'Peroxide of hydrogen from
Eucalyptus globulus

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', Australian medical journal, vol. 23, February 1878, p. 59 (B78.02.02). The letter is dated to January 1878 as this is when the relevant issue of The Times (see n. 2) would have arrived from London.
To the Editor of the Australian Medical Journal.
Sir, —
Possibly the practical application of the dioxide of hydrogen (O2 H2) according to Kingzett's method, as recorded in the Times of the 6th December,
2
M forwarded a copy of the article, published originally in The Times (London), 6 December 1877, p. 7, to the editor of the journal and it was reproduced beneath his letter (pp. 59-62).
may not yet have come under the notice of the readers of the Australian Medical Journal. This is perhaps an apt opportunity to mention, in justice to myself, that the first introduction of the
Eucalyptus globulus

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into the countries at the Mediteranean sea (as in America and elsewhere) was effected mainly by myself, through the instrumentality of Mons. Ramel, who saw my planted trees at the Botanic Garden in 1857, when they had reached a surprising height from seeds sown from my gathering in 1852. I showed the trees myself to Mons. Ramel, who never travelled in our Eucalyptus forests, and whom I have supported in the diffusion of the eucalypts through South Europe and North Africa ever since. I believe also that the seeds of the E. globulus trees raised in the Campagna came first from me, and were given to Archbishop Goold, when his grace visited Rome on the occasion of the great council about ten years ago. It was a sending made by my own impulse, as I knew the thoughtful prelate would take a vivid interest in my suggestion of seeing the E. globulus raised at Rome, both for sanitary and technical purposes.
Regardfully yours,
Ferd. von Mueller.
The article now transmitted will also show the importance of the researches made by our friend, Dr. Day, on the dioxide of hydrogen.
3
Day (1869), p. 329, mentions his generation of 'peroxide of hydrogen' from, inter alia, eucalyptus oil. Day (1878), describing his use of hydrogen peroxide thus generated in the healing of wounds, was read to the Medical Society of Victoria on 3 July 1878, after M sent the account in The Times to the journal.