164 
Hiquor, separated into white particles or flakes, such as are formed 
when camphor dissolved in the sun is poured upon water. In 
one of the phials which I kept closed and at rest for more than 
two months, the liquor remained clear, its fragrance unaltered, 
and the floating particles entire as on the day when the liquor 
was put into the phial. In the other, which I frequently 
unclosed and shook gently to observe the substance of the flakes 
and the fragrance, they both diminished gradually and slowly,’ 
the liquor still remaining clear, and only becoming rather turbid 
when the phial was gently shaken; but as soon as the larger flakes 
ascended to the surface of the water; aiid the smaller ones by their 
greater tenuity descended, the liquor again became clear. It is 
to be inferred from this result, that in the bark of the Star-reed 
there is a considerable portion of a concrete camphorous sub- 
stance or essential oil, which floats on the surface of water, and 
- which cannot be held im solution. 
6. Having filtered the liquor remaining in the retort after 
the preceding operation, and evaporated it to the consis- 
tence of honey, I placed it in the sun under a glass, where it 
assumed the solid consistence of pure extract in small crystals 
of various facets, brilliant and transparent, much resembling in 
colour and consistence the resin of jalap, and having a bitter 
acrid taste with little fragrance. The quantity of very pure ex- 
~ tract was forty-eight grains. “Th the residuum there remained a 
hundred and eight, so that in distillation the half ounce of the 
powders lost in weight a hundred and thirty-two. grains. We. 
must infer that a part of this quantity combined with the water, 
part floated in the form of a camphorous substance, and part 
was dissipated in gas. The remainder was without taste or smell, 
the colour of the powders having varied little, and become 
somewhat paler. fo a 
