CAMPHORA. 123 
that power.” (Compare this with Murray, 1. c., p. 518.) Jorg 
(Handb. d. Krankh. d. Weibes, 2nd edit., Leipsic, 1821, 
p- 242) places Camphor almost on an equality with the chief 
stimulants, and says: “‘ And further we know also now for cer- 
tain that Camphor possesses no peculiar property of lowering 
the sexual desire, as several have believed, and as the vulgar 
still imagine ; and therefore the utility of this medicine in the 
above-mentioned malady (nymphomania) is refuted. The 
case may, however, occur where Camphor does good ser- 
vice in nymphomania too ; but this can only be when it bears 
the character of debility, and when the generative system is no 
longer so highly irritated.” But if there still exists some irri- 
tation, and Camphor being at the same time so greata stimulant, 
will not then the existing irritation be yet heightened by the 
Camphor? and if it then nevertheless renders good services, does — 
not that come to pass on the principle of homeopathy? Vogt 
(Pharmacodyn., 1. c., p. 509) recommends Camphor in diseases 
of the urinary and generative organs with the phenomenon of 
increased irritation of those parts. Hufeland (Enchirid. Med., 
Berl., 1836, p. 282) commends the use of Camphor in nympho- 
mania, satyriasis, and onanism: “ it is,” he says, “ truly a 
specificum antaphrodisiacum, and I have seen even atrophy of 
the testicles arise from the continual internal and external ex- 
hibition of it.” According to Selle also (Medic. Clin., 5th edit., 
Berl., 1789, p. 606), Camphor, used frequently, weakens the 
generative faculty; hence it was formerly looked upon in 
monasteries as a so-called means of chastity. Joh. Chr. Stark 
(Handb. z. Kennt. u. Heil. in N. Krankh., Jena, 1800, vol. 
ii. p. 129) assures that in lewdness much may be effected 
by Camphor remedies, among others. According to Fried- 
lander, Camphor, “as is known,” has no specific virtue 
against nymphomania. ‘The notion that Camphor is capable 
of lowering the vitality of the sexual organs, and that it 
can hence directly benefit in diseases of those parts with 
increased sensibility, dates probably, according to Jorg (Ma- 
