846 ODOROGRAPHIA. 
An alcoholic solution of common camphor turns the plane of 
polarization to the right hand, a similar solution of Borneo cam- 
phor also possesses a dextrogyre power but little inferior in degree, 
but on examining a solution of Ngai camphor in the same way 
Professor Fliickiger found a marked difference: it deviates the 
ray of polarized light to the left hand, being as much levogyre as 
the solution of Borneo camphor is dextrogyre. 
In 1856 Jeanjean* examined the product of the fermentation 
of the sugar contained in Madder, Rubia tinctorum, Linn. From 
the fusel-oil which distilled over with the aleohol produced by this 
fermentation, he separated out a camphor having the composition 
of Borneo camphor, but possessing exactly the same lzvo-rotatory 
power as Ngai camphor. That chemist examined the nature of 
the crystals of Rubia camphor, and by boiling them for a short time 
with nitric acid he obtained the compound C,)H,,O, agreeing in 
composition with Laurel camphor, but differing from it by its 
alcoholic solution deviating the ray of polarized light as much to 
the left- as that of Laurel camphor does to the right-hand. 
Operating in the same way on Ngai camphor, Fliickiger obtained 
crystals which were entirely devoid of the peculiar odour of Ngai 
and rather reminding of ordinary camphor. Its alcoholic solution 
was leevogyre, and the polarizing microscope proved the crystals 
did not belong to the same system as their mother substance; they 
displayed brilliant colours, showing that there was no longer any 
question of the cubic system. 
It has been observed by Chautard + that oil of Feverfew (Chry- 
santhemum Parthenium, Pers.), on cooling, or by treating it with 
nitric acid, yields a levogyre camphor, C,9H,,0, which is in all 
probability identical with Rubia camphor. 
Jeanjean found{ that when Rubia camphor is distilled with 
phosphoric anhydride or chloride of zine, it yields a hydrocarbon 
resembling oil of lemon or Bergamot. 
The exhaustive researches of Professor Fliickiger conclusively 
prove that the camphor C,)H,,O obtained by oxidizing the Malay 
camphor is absolutely identical with ordinary camphor ; the cry- 
stals after washing and drying, being examined under the polariz- 
ing-microscope, proved most brilliantly not to belong to the cubic 
* Comptes Rendus, xli. p. 857, and Ann. Chem. Pharm. ci. p. 94. 
+ Journ. de Pharm. xliv. p. 22. 
t Ann. Chem. Pharm. ci. p. 94. 
