G92 ORD. XL. Oleracce. LAURUS CAMPHORA. 
action of mercury; and if the saline preparations of mercury are triturated with 
a portion of Camphire, this abstracts a part of the acid that had been united with 
the mercury, and therefore renders the preparation more mild than before, and at 
the same time does not deprive entirely the preparation of much of its deobstruent 
virtue. This we have had experience of in that very acrid preparation of mercury 
the turbeth mineral, and also in the mercurius duicis or calomel, which, by being 
triturated with Camphire, become less purgative, and less ready to excite saliva- 
tion. How far this mitigation of the preparations of mercury leaves them equally 
powerful as before in the cure of syphilis, I cannot certainly determine; but am 
of opinion that it does not, if they bé employed in the same quantities as they 
would have been before. 
‘¢ This mitigation of the saline preparations of mercury, by a combination with 
Camphire, will be readily admitted; but many practitioners go farther, and alledge 
that mercury, in every condition, united with Camphire, becomes a more mild 
substance, less irritating-to.the system,—while.it is equally p owerful in curing the 
diseases to which it is otherwise adapted.* 1 must admit the experience of the 
practitioners of France in this matter, but those of this country know nothing of ' 
it; and I can assert, that in many trials, a quantity of Camphire added to our 
common mercurial ointment heither prevented the unction, in the usual quantity, 
from exciting salivation, nor rendered the symptoms of it more mild than usual. 
ca peculiar combination of Camphiré said to have censiderable effect, is that 
with opium. The employment of opium is in many persons attended with some 
inconvenience and disorder, as I have observed above; and every practitioner 
knows it to be alledged by some respectable persons, that Camphire joined with it 
prevents these disorders. It may be so, but [ have not found it in my experiments, 
J have found large doses of Camphire dispose to slecp, but commonly with that 
same confusion of head and turbulent dreams which sometimes arise from the use 
of opium; and I have not found that a small quantity of Camphire has any effects 
in increasing the power of opium, or of rendering the operation of it different from 
what it would have been if employed alone. But against the respectable autho- 
rities of Lasonne and Halle," I must suspect that sand experiments have net been 
a properly or often enough. 
‘ There is still another instance of the improvement of a medicine by a com. 
bination with Camphire. Mr. Lasonne assures us, that Camphire, joined with the 
Peruvian bark, gives it more energy and force, whether it be to be employed for 
the purpose of curing fever or gangrene; and I believe this.to be well :founded. 
*¢ After thus treating of the virtues of Camphire, we must speak ef its dose and 
* Raulin, Observ. de Medecine, ft» 266. 
Despatureaux in Hall, Diss. Pract. val. i. f. 531. 
» Hallé, Mea, de la Socitté de Med, tom. cit. pr. 73. 
* 
. 
1 sjadeacebiaidheieetnonen tig aig 
