‘it is generally considered that Borneo camphor is meant by 
198 DIPTEROCARPEZ:. 
Vernacular.—Bhimséni Kapir or Kéfar (Hind., Bomb.). 
History, Uses, &c.—Sanskrit writers mention two 
kinds of camphor, Pakva und Apakva (cooked and. uncooked) ; 
the latter term. In the R4janirghantu oil of camphor is men- _ 
tioned ; this may refer to the Borneo camphor oil, or to some 
preparation made by dissolving camphor in oil. Mahometan 
writers describe the Borneo camphor as the best kind, and 
notice the way in which it is obtained by splitting the trunk of 
the tree, The author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya gives a full _ 
account of it, and mentions the fact of several pieces of the 
timber having been brought to the Hughli, which when cut up 
into planks yielded a quantity of camphor. He also describes 
_ the way in which the oil is obtained by incising the tree. . 
Borneo camphor is supposed by native physicians to have the — 
properties of camphor in a much higher degree than ordinary 
camphor; on this account it fetches an extraordinarily high 
price. From the researches of Flickiger and Hanbury it — 
appears that this camphor was the only kind known in Europe 
in the Middle Ages and was the xagoupd of the later Greek 
writers, who obtained their knowledge of it from the Arabians. 
Camphor is considered by the Hindus to be hot and dry, and 
by the Mahometans to be cold and dry, and to stimulate the 
brain and heart ; it is prescribed in a great variety of disorders: 
The Hindus consider Borneo camphor to be aphrodisiacal, 
_. but the Mahometans hold a contrary opinion; both regard it 
as a valuable cooling application to the eyelids in inflammatory 
conditions of the eye. Ainslie mentions the Dryobalanops 
camphor as having been recently described by Mr, H. 
Colebroke, who was the first to determine its Botanical source, 
but wrongly supposes it to be the chief source of the camphor 
usedin India. Mr. John Macdonald (1 793) described the collec- 
tion of the camphor in Sumatra in the following terms :—“ The 
Sumatrians previous to their setting out in search of camphor 
discharge a variety of religious duties and ceremonies. They 
select old trees and pierce them, if they yield oil plentifully it 
- 
¥ 
