LAURUS CAMPHORA. ORD. XL. aaa 685 
juice is afterwards poured gently into a new earthen bason, well 
varnished, in which it is suffered to remain one night. Next 
morning it is found coagulated, and formed into a mold mass. 
To purify this first preparation, they procure some earth from an 
old earthen wall, which, when pounded and reduced to a very 
fine powder, they put into the bottom of a bason made of red 
copper; over this layer of earth they spread a layer of Camphor, 
and continue thus until they have laid four strata. The last, 
which is of very fine earth, they cover up with the leaves of 
pennyroyal; and over the whole they place another bason, joining 
it closely to the former by means of a kind of red earth, that 
cements their brims together. The bason thus prepared is put 
over a fire, which must be managed so as to keep up-an equal 
heat: experience teaches them to observe the proper degree. 
But above all, they must be very attentive lest the plaster of fat 
earth, which keeps the basons together, should crack or fali off; 
otherwise the spirituous parts would evaporate and ruin the whole 
process, When the basons have been exposed to the necessary 
heat, they are taken off and left to cool; after which they are 
separated, and the sublimated-Camphor i is found adhering to the 
cover, If ibis operation. is repeated. suip.ae three. times, the ( Cam- 
phor is. y enever it is necessary 
to use any quantity of this cchethass. it is put between two 
earthen vessels, the edges of which are surrounded with several 
bands of wet paper. These vessel are kept for about an hour over 
an equal and moderate fire, and when they are cool the Camphor 
is found in its utmost perfection, and ready for use.”’° 
The crude Camphor, exported from Japan, appears in small 
greyish pieces, and is intermixed with various extraneous matters : 
in this state it is received by the Dutch, and purified by a second 
sublimation ; after which it is formed into loaves, the state in which 
it is brought to us. The peculiar method used by the Dutch in 
° See General Description of China; translated from the French, yol. i. p. 451. 
No. 51.— vor. 4, 84 
