Dennis Considen
Encyclopedia
Dennis Considen was an Irish
-born surgeon, best known for his pioneering role in the use of Australian native plants for pharmaceutical use, especially eucalyptus oil
, which he used to treat the convicts. He sailed with the First Fleet
as surgeon on the Scarborough
which transported English
convicts to Port Jackson
, Australia
, in 1788.
settlement, including scurvy
and dysentry. Pharmaceutical preparations included kino from Eucalyptus and Angophora
, 'yellow gum' resin from Xanthorrhoea
spp., native sarsaparilla Smilax glyciphylla
and the 'large peppermint-tree' Eucalyptus piperita
.
In November 1788 Considen proclaimed himself to English colleague, Dr Anthony Hamilton, as the colony's pharmaceutic pioneer: "...if there is any merit in applying these & many other simples[sic] to the benefit of the poor wretches here, I certainly claim it, being the first who discovered & recommended them.". For further evaluation, Considen also dispatched a Eucalyptus oil sample, on the return voyage to England
on the Golden Grove
.
The Australian botanist, Joseph Maiden
, expressed the opinion that Considen deserves credit for being the first person to recognize the medicinal value of eucalyptus oil extracted from E. piperita found growing on the shores of Port Jackson
. John White
, Surgeon General to the Colony, is also credited with the discovery of peppermint gum oil, in documenting the matter and organizing oil samples to be sent back to England.
working with fellow Irish surgeons D'Arcy Wentworth
and Thomas Jamison
, Considen returned to Sydney. Considen was granted leave because of ill health, and sailed on the Kitty for Ireland. He arrived at Cork
in February 1794. Back in Ireland, he served as a hospital mate in the Army Medical Service until he was appointed deputy-purveyor for service on the European Continent. In August 1799, he was promoted to the position of purveyor. This enabled him to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh
and to better support his family.
Considen graduated as a Doctor of Medicine on the 24 June 1804, with a thesis entitled De Tetano, in which he refers to his discovery of eucalyptus oil. He was subsequently called to Cork to join an expedition bound for the Cape
.
Considen maintained an interest in New South Wales and its natural history. He kept contact with his friends Thomas Arndell, George Johnston
and D'Arcy Wentworth. Surviving records of Considen's character indicate that he was a humane man with an earnest desire to do well in his profession. On 6 January 1812 he was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians. He died in 1815.
Joseph Maiden dedicated Eucalyptus consideniana in recognition of his pioneer work with eucalyptus oil.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born surgeon, best known for his pioneering role in the use of Australian native plants for pharmaceutical use, especially eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil is the generic name for distilled oil from the leaf of Eucalyptus, a genus of the plant family Myrtaceae native to Australia and cultivated worldwide. Eucalyptus oil has a history of wide application, as a pharmaceutical, antiseptic, repellent, flavouring, fragrance and industrial uses...
, which he used to treat the convicts. He sailed with the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
as surgeon on the Scarborough
Scarborough (ship)
'Scarborough' was a transport ship of 430 tons, built at Scarborough in 1782. She formed part of the First Fleet, which commenced European settlement of Australia in 1788....
which transported English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
convicts to Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in 1788.
Pioneering Australian Pharmaceutical Research
Considen used indigenous Australian plants to alleviate a range of diseases which scourged the convictConvict
A convict is "a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court" or "a person serving a sentence in prison", sometimes referred to in slang as simply a "con". Convicts are often called prisoners or inmates. Persons convicted and sentenced to non-custodial sentences often are not termed...
settlement, including scurvy
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, which is required for the synthesis of collagen in humans. The chemical name for vitamin C, ascorbic acid, is derived from the Latin name of scurvy, scorbutus, which also provides the adjective scorbutic...
and dysentry. Pharmaceutical preparations included kino from Eucalyptus and Angophora
Angophora
Angophora is a genus of ten species of trees or large shrubs in the myrtle family , native to eastern Australia. It is closely related to Corymbia and Eucalyptus, and all three are often referred to as "eucalypts". The differences are that Angophora have opposite leaves rather than alternate, and...
, 'yellow gum' resin from Xanthorrhoea
Xanthorrhoea
Xanthorrhoea is a genus of flowering plants native to Australia and a member of family Xanthorrhoeaceae, being the only member of subfamily Xanthorrhoeoideae. The Xanthorrhoeaceae are monocots, part of order Asparagales. There are 28 species and five subspecies of Xanthorrhoea.-Description:All are...
spp., native sarsaparilla Smilax glyciphylla
Smilax glyciphylla
Smilax glyciphylla, the Sweet Sarsaparilla, is a dioecious climber native to eastern Australia. It is widespread in rainforest, sclerophyll forest and woodland; mainly in coastal regions....
and the 'large peppermint-tree' Eucalyptus piperita
Eucalyptus piperita
Eucalyptus piperita, commonly known as Sydney Peppermint and Urn-fruited Peppermint, is a small to medium forest tree native to New South Wales, Australia.-Description:...
.
In November 1788 Considen proclaimed himself to English colleague, Dr Anthony Hamilton, as the colony's pharmaceutic pioneer: "...if there is any merit in applying these & many other simples[sic] to the benefit of the poor wretches here, I certainly claim it, being the first who discovered & recommended them.". For further evaluation, Considen also dispatched a Eucalyptus oil sample, on the return voyage to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on the Golden Grove
Golden Grove (ship)
The Golden Grove was a First Fleet storeship built at Whitby in 1780. Her master was William Sharp, while the Fleet's chaplain Richard Johnson and his wife and servant also travelled to New South Wales on this ship. She left Portsmouth on 13 May 1787, and arrived at Port Jackson, Sydney,...
.
The Australian botanist, Joseph Maiden
Joseph Maiden
Joseph Henry Maiden was a botanist who made a major contribution to knowledge of the Australian flora, especially the Eucalyptus genus. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Maiden when citing a botanical name.Joseph Maiden was born in St John's Wood, London...
, expressed the opinion that Considen deserves credit for being the first person to recognize the medicinal value of eucalyptus oil extracted from E. piperita found growing on the shores of Port Jackson
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
. John White
John White (surgeon)
John White was an English surgeon and botanical collector.White was born in Sussex and entered the Royal Navy on 26 June 1778 as third surgeon's mate. He was promoted surgeon in 1780, and was the principal surgeon during the voyage of the First Fleet to Australia...
, Surgeon General to the Colony, is also credited with the discovery of peppermint gum oil, in documenting the matter and organizing oil samples to be sent back to England.
Return to Ireland
In November 1791, after a period on Norfolk IslandNorfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
working with fellow Irish surgeons D'Arcy Wentworth
D'Arcy Wentworth
D'Arcy Wentworth was born in Portadown, County Armagh, Ireland and emigrated to Australia as an assistant surgeon to then-new colony of Sydney.- Emigration to Australia :...
and Thomas Jamison
Thomas Jamison
Thomas Jamison was a prominent surgeon, government official, mercantile trader and land owner of Sydney, Australia. Jamison was also a member of the First Fleet expedition of 11 ships which founded the Australian colony of New South Wales in 1788...
, Considen returned to Sydney. Considen was granted leave because of ill health, and sailed on the Kitty for Ireland. He arrived at Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in February 1794. Back in Ireland, he served as a hospital mate in the Army Medical Service until he was appointed deputy-purveyor for service on the European Continent. In August 1799, he was promoted to the position of purveyor. This enabled him to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and to better support his family.
Considen graduated as a Doctor of Medicine on the 24 June 1804, with a thesis entitled De Tetano, in which he refers to his discovery of eucalyptus oil. He was subsequently called to Cork to join an expedition bound for the Cape
Cape
Cape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic...
.
Considen maintained an interest in New South Wales and its natural history. He kept contact with his friends Thomas Arndell, George Johnston
George Johnston (New South Wales)
Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston was briefly Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales, Australia after leading the rebellion later known as the Rum Rebellion....
and D'Arcy Wentworth. Surviving records of Considen's character indicate that he was a humane man with an earnest desire to do well in his profession. On 6 January 1812 he was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians. He died in 1815.
Joseph Maiden dedicated Eucalyptus consideniana in recognition of his pioneer work with eucalyptus oil.
See also
- Eucalyptus oilEucalyptus oilEucalyptus oil is the generic name for distilled oil from the leaf of Eucalyptus, a genus of the plant family Myrtaceae native to Australia and cultivated worldwide. Eucalyptus oil has a history of wide application, as a pharmaceutical, antiseptic, repellent, flavouring, fragrance and industrial uses...
- Eucalyptus piperitaEucalyptus piperitaEucalyptus piperita, commonly known as Sydney Peppermint and Urn-fruited Peppermint, is a small to medium forest tree native to New South Wales, Australia.-Description:...
- First FleetFirst FleetThe First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
- ScarboroughScarborough (ship)'Scarborough' was a transport ship of 430 tons, built at Scarborough in 1782. She formed part of the First Fleet, which commenced European settlement of Australia in 1788....