BY JOSEPH liAUTERER, M.D. 23 



the camphor of the Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora). 

 By sublimation I extracted one ounce of camphor out of 12 

 -pounds of the foliage of Cinnamoimim Oliven. (I am the first 

 scientist who has found ready-formed dextrorotatory Laurineae- 

 camphor in a plant other than the two species of Camphora, 

 hitherto known as Camphora officinanwi and C. glandulifera 

 from Nepaul, and the first man who found camphor in a native 

 plant of Australia.) It has the formula Cjo Hg 0, and has nothing 

 to do with the laevorotatory isomeride contained in the "fewer 

 few " Matricaria Parthenium, or the inactive camphor from oil 

 of sage or the bodies resembling camphor contained in the oils 

 of Absinthe, Eucalypt, Barosma, Valeriana, etc. It has nothing 

 to do with Borneo camphor from Dryobalanops, which is dextro- 

 rotatory too, but has a strong smell of pepper and the formula 

 Cio Hi8 0, and is different from the Mgaicamphor derived from a 

 Chinese composite, Blumea halsamifera. 



The identity of the camphor of Cinnamomum Oliven with 

 that of Camphor Laurel was proved by me by the form of the 

 sublimated crystals and by the polariscope. The camphor is 

 contained in special oil-ducts in the mesophyll. It is dissolved 

 there in the oil which will be described under the next heading. 

 Very likely the fabrication of camphor from the foliage of the Bris- 

 bane Sassafras tree could be made payable if properly managed. A 

 still is not wanted for it. The leaves are boiled in a large kettle, 

 the top of which is covered by an upturned unglazed earthenware 

 vessel filled with straw. The camphor is sublimated in the 

 straw in the form of small pure grains. 



According to the Pharm. Journal, 1892, p. 482, the manu- 

 facture of camphor in Japan is conducted as follows : — 



A large metal pot is partially filled with water and placed 

 over a slow fire. A wooden tub is fitted to the top of the pot 

 and the camphor-yielding material is placed in this. The bottom 

 of the tub is perforated so as to permit the steam to pass up 

 amongst the material. From this tub a bamboo pipe leads to 

 another tub, through, which the enclosed steam, the Uberated 

 camphor and oil- flow. This second tub is connected in like 

 manner with a.third. The third tub is divided into two compart- 

 ments, one above the other, the dividing floor being perforated 



