CAMPHOR. O47 
system but to the hexagonal, and, as he says, the microscope thus 
enables us to demonstrate very manifestly the transformation of 
the optically indifferent crystals of Dryobanalops camphor into 
Laurel camphor, even in the smallest fragment. 
Oil of camphor is a bye-product in the preparation of camphor 
in Japan. When the branches of Laurus Camphora are distilled 
with water, the oi] volatilizes over and is condensed with the cam- 
phor. It is collected separately, and a further quantity drains off 
from the packages in which the crude camphor is put up. 
A Paper on the subject of camphor oil was communicated to the 
British Pharmaceutical Conference by Mr. John Moss, in which 
analytical results of a number of samples were given, showing the 
oil to be of a very variable nature. A Paper was also communi- 
cated to the Chemical Society by Mr. Yoshida, a Japanese chemist*, 
who showed that the oil consists of two hydrocarbons boiling at 
150° C. and 172-178° C., about 25 per cent. of camphor and an 
oxygenated oil, camphorogenol, which, through the influence of 
heat and oxidation, changes into camphor, thus accounting for the 
deposition of camphor in the oil through age. 
A Paper describing observations on numerous samples of this oil 
was read at the Meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Conference in 
1887 by Mr. P. MacEwan, from which it may be gathered that great 
range of quality was apparent in the samples—some being almost 
colourless, others very dark and varying greatly in their physical 
characters. In the discussion on Mr. Moss’s paper referred to, it 
transpired, on the evidence of Mr. Yoshida, that the dark colora- 
tion of some samples was the result of heat, or partial carboniza- 
tion during distillation, they being in fact “ residues.” 
It appears that at present (also in 1887) immense quantities of 
crude camphor-oil are imported into Europe, principally to 
Germany. It is then refined, the camphor being separated by a 
freezing process, and the lighter oil (sp. gr. 0°910) distilled off and 
sold for making varnishes, drying paints, mixing with soaps, as a 
protective for leather against insects, and other purposes. The 
heavier oil (sp. gr. 0°970, boiling between 240°-300° C.) is said to 
much resemble the natural oil of sassafras, and is also used as a 
perfume for soap. After safrol has been separated from it a cer- 
tain quantity of eugenol (identical with the heavy portion of oil of 
cloves) is obtainable. Heavy camphor-oil is of a pale green colour 
* Journ. Chem. Soc., Oct. 1885, p. 779. 
