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known as Malay camphor. The crystals of this tree are found in 

 clusters under the bark, in knots, and occupying longitudinal fis- 

 sures in the heart of the tree. In order to obtain it, the trees are 

 destroyed by the natives who are said to often procure about ten 

 pounds from a mature tree. 



FORMOSA OR CHINESE CAMPHOR. 



Formosa camphor has hitherto been shipped to Europe and 

 America through Chinese ports. For this reason it is gei^rally 

 known as Chinese camphor. It is produced by a crude process 

 of distillation, billets of the wood being boiled in water in large 

 containers covered with straw, luted with clay. These containers 

 or retorts generally hold about four hundred pounds of wood, 

 which is renewed every day for about ten days. At the end of 

 this time the crystals of camphor are found adhering to the straw 

 upon which it has been deposited. It reaches the markets in an 

 impure and moist condition in lead-lined* chests each containing 

 about one hundred and fifty pounds. The moist nature is due to 

 the addition of water which is used to prevent volatization. 



JAPANESE OR DUTCH CAMPHOR. 



Japanese camphor reaches the market by way of Batavia, and 

 is therefore often called Dutch camphor. It is usually of larger 

 grain, is pinkish in color and of superior quality than the Chinese 

 product and is received dry. It is packed' in tubs containing 

 about one hundred and twenty-five pounds and is sometimes also 

 known as tub camphor. Wooden condensers and bamboo tubes 

 are used in the process of production. 



REFINING. 



The process of refining camphor was long kept secret and for 

 a time the city of Venice mamtained a monopoly of the art. 

 The method is termed ''sublimation" and' its object is to free the 

 crude product from impurities. It bears the same relation -to the 

 refining of solids as distillation dees to the manufacture of liquids. 

 The process is now well known and it has been carried on suc- 

 cessfully in many large cities, although as has been said, the 

 difficulty in securing the crude material has practically forced 

 American and European refineries from the field. Briefly the 

 method is conducted as follows : 



The camphor is first broken into small pieces, and about thre<? 

 per cent, of slaked lim.e and two per cent, of iron filings being 

 added, it is placed in glass flasks imbedded in sand. These are 

 then gently heated to about 190 degrees C. for an hour to expel 

 moisture and then to about 204 degrees C, at which temperature 

 it is maintained for twenty-four hours. The flasks are now corked 

 and the sand is removed from the upper portion, where the cam- 



