4 2 3 
A 
tli is ftate it is received by the Dutch, and purified by a fecond ful 
mation ; after which it is formed into loaves, the ftate in which i 
brought to us. The peculiar method ufed by the Dutch in this p 
cefs has lone been kept a fecret; but others have fucceed 
i 
S 
drug, and the manner of performing it is now detailed and found 
to anfwer the.purpofe very well. p 
Pure Camphor is white, pellucid, fomewhat untluous to the touch; 
of a bitteriih aromatic acrid tafte, yet accompanied with a fenfe of 
coolnefs ; of a fmell fragrant, and approaching to that of rofemary, 
but much ftronger. It is totally volatile r-nd inflammable ; foluble 
in vinous fpirits, oils, and the mineral acids ; not in water, fixed or 
volatile alkaline liquors, nor in the acids of the vegetable kingdom.* 
Camphor does not feem to have been known to the Greeks; but 
by the Arabians it was called Cafur, or Canfur, and was fuppofed to 
pofTefs a refrigerant power/ To raoft fmall infects, and even to frogs 
and birds, the effluvia of Camphor prove very deftructive, as appears 
from the experiments of Menghini and Carminati. 3 Taken inwardly 
birds or quadrupeds, as rabbits, cats, dogs, fheep, &c. to the 
quantity of a dram, it has been found univerially to produce delete- 
rious effects ;* -and in large dofes it has occafioned fymptoms equally 
dangerous on man, inftances of which are related by Griffin, Alex- 
ander, Whytt, Collin, Hoffman, Callifen, Culien, and others. Whether 
Camphor ought to be confidered as a califacient and ftimulant, or as 
a refrigerant and fedative, we are furprifed mould of late have become 
a fubject of controversy ; the experiments of Alexander, who found 
that his pulfe was lefTened ten vibrations in a minute," fufficiently 
eftablifh its fedative character; and though fome inftances might 
p The following method is dire&ed'in the Pharm. Suecica. p. 52. 
Rec. Camphorae crudae libras duas, 
Calcis uftae pulveratae unciam unam. 
Simul trita immittantur cucurbitae vitreae latae et depreflae, atque arenas calore fenfim 
audio liquetur Camphora. ReraifTo poftea calore fubiimetur mafia pellucida, a fcoriis, 
eonfradto vitro, feparanda. 
9 Duncan's Edinburgh New DIfpenfatory. 
r See Avicenna ed. Alpagi et Rinii. p. 563. Alfo Serapion. 
Mengh. Comment. Bonon. torn. 3. *. 314.^. Carm. de animal ex mephiubu 
p. 186. l Carm. & Mengh. L c. * Experimental EJays, p. 227 
ih 
