CAMPHOR-TREE. 421 



Every part of the tree, particularly the flowers, possess the smell and taste of 

 camphor in a high degree; but, it is especially from the roots, that this substance, 

 so useful in medicine, is obtained. According to Kaempfer and Tliunberg, the 

 method of extracting camphor in the provinces of Saltzuma and the islands of 

 Gotha, in Japan, is to chop up the roots and wood of the tree, and boil tbem in 

 water in an iron vessel, with an earthen head, containing a quantity of straw, 

 adapted to it, on which the camphor condenses, or sublimes. But the method 

 practised in China, from the statements of the Abbe Grosier, DentrecoUes, and 

 Davies, appears to be somewhat different. The cliopped branches are steeped in 

 water, and afterwards boiled, until the camphor begins to adhere to the stick, or 

 spatula, used in stirring. The liquid is then strained, and by standing, the cam- 

 phor concretes. Alternate layers of dry earth, finely powdered, and of this 

 camphor, are then placed in a copper basin, to which another inverted one is 

 luted, and by this means sublimation is effected. 



There are two kinds of crude camphor known in commerce, namely, the Dutch 

 or Japan camphor, and the China, Formosa, or ordinary cnide camphor. The 

 former is brought from Batavia, and is said to be the produce of Japan. It is 

 imported in tubs covered by mating, and each surrounded by a second tub, 

 secured on the outside by hoops of twisted cane. Each tub contains from one 

 hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds. It consists of pink-coloured grains, 

 which, by their natural adhesion, form various-sized masses. It diflfers from the 

 ordinary crude camphor in having larger grains, in being cleaner, and in sub- 

 liming, usually at a lower temperature. The ordinary crude camphor is imported 

 from Singapore, Bombay, &c., in square chests, lined with lead foil, and con- 

 taining from one hundred and forty to one hundred and seventy pounds. It is 

 chiefly produced in the island of Formosa, and is brought by the Chin-Chew 

 junks in very large quantities to Canton, whence foreign markets are supplied. It 

 consists of dirty grayish grains, which are smaller than those of Dutch camphor. 

 Its quality varies being sometimes wet and impure, but occasionally it is as fine 

 as the Dutch kind. 



Liquid camphor and Sumatra or Boryieo camphor, are obtained from the Dryo- 

 balanops aromatica, a large tree growing in Sumatra and Borneo. The liquid 

 camphor or camphor oil is obtained by making deep incisions in the tree, from 

 which the liquid oozes out, and is received in bamboos, or other convenient uten- 

 sils. It is occasionally imported in tin canisters, and sometimes consists of a per- 

 fectly limpid, transparent fluid, but most usually it is more or less tinged with 

 yellow or brown. Its odour is somewhat analogous to that of the oil of cajuputi, 

 combined with the odour of camplior and cardamoms. Sunwtra or Bor/ieo cam- 

 phor, called by the natives Kapurbanis, is found in the natural fissures or crevices 

 of the wood, and occurs in small, white, transparent fragments of crystals, of a 

 camphoraceous odour, and a hot taste. It is much esteemed by the Chmese; 

 but, from its exorbitant price, it rarely enters into their foreign commerce.* 



Camphor is also found in numerous herbs, especially peppermint, rose-mary, 

 thyme, lavender, &c. The quantity, however, thus produced, is too small to 

 yield a commercial supply. 



* See Pereira's Materia Medica, ii., pp. 243, 244 et 655, 



