On Camphor and the Camphoric /fciJ, IOC 



ought to didingulfli an earthy carburet, particularly that of alumine, I (hall apply this name 

 to dillinguifli the refult of the new produ£l obtained by the decompofition of camphor. 



We cannot have any further doubt rcfpeSmg the exiftence of carbone in camphor ; 

 but we fliould render this objeft much more interefting, if we could prove our aflertion by 

 fyntheds. Vegetables do not,, however, in all cafes, permit us to imitate Nature in her 

 proceflcs. It frequently happens, that thebeft produces of Art are but imperfedl approxi- 

 jnations to natural compounds. 



I do not, however, defpair of our forming camphor hereafter by means of a volatile oiU 

 Various eflays on the contrary allow me to aflert that it is poffible to effedt this. 



A. few experiments which follow will render this aflertion probable. 



SECTION V. ' 



Procejfes for carbonizing a Volatile Oil. 



ONE ounce, or 30,571 grammes of carburet of pot-alh, or pot-afli fufed with charcoal,, 

 and 4 ounces, or 122,284 grammes of volatile oil of turpentine, or other volatile oil, were 

 taken. Thefe two fubftances were put into>a matrafs, and the whole was macerated by a 

 gentle heat^ The oil acquired a very deep black colour ; its fmell was clianged and be- 

 came more aromatic. If in thefe experiments the oil thus changed be poured into diftil- 

 led water, the fluid becomes white, and a precipitate is formed. If the liquor be left in 

 conta£l with the atmofjjheric air, a few drops of oil rife and float at the furface, but the 

 liquor continues white. From a perfuafion that this combination had formed a faponule, 

 I feturated the pot-a(h with an acid,, and no true oil was feparated, but it remained fuC- 

 pended in the water, which was become opaque and white. 



As the addition of pot-a(h rendered my experiment uncertain, I repeatedlt in another 

 manner. 



By the advice of Cit. Guyton, I pafled hydrogen gas (obtained by the a£lion of ful- 

 phuric acid upon zinc) through oil of turpentine, into which I had put the powder of 

 charcoal. I was careful to keep the oil confl:antly hot,.in order to promote thefolution of 

 the coal by the hydrogen gas. 



In proportion as the gas was difengaged, the fluid became deeper coloured ; and, in- 

 ftcad of continuing limpid, it became yellow, and at laft brown. If the pneumato-chemi- 

 cal apparatus be adapted to the veflel containing the oil, hydrogen gas is colleded toge- 

 ther with a fmalL portion of carbonic acid. 



The oil by this treatment has therefore taken up a fmall quantity of carbone and hydro- 

 gen, as appears by the difl^erence between its properties and thofe of pure oil; viz. i. It: 

 is deeper coloured : 2. Its fmell is more agreeable, (fuave) :. 3. And, when mixed with 

 water, this fluid becomes turbid, and the oil does not feparate but by expofure to the air,, 

 which leaves the water conftantly opaque. 



It muft be admitted that thefe trials afford no fatisfaftory refult. But I have no doubt- 

 but that a continued fet of experiments on this objeft would afford decided conclufions, or 

 at leaft fome elucidations of utility to the progrefs of fcience. 



[The remainder- ia our nexti j 



II. In* 



