CAMPHEN. 



CAMPHOR. 



, (C-H..O,). 



I o/ carraway with 



CAMPHKX. [TtmnKn.] 



[Tl-BPKJCTWE.] 



rrrannin.] 



CAMPH" <'ar,;,ml, Ceomaenl 



colourlcs*, oily body obtained let, by acting upon oil 

 potash ; 2nd, by treating the name oil with glacial phosphoric acid ; 

 3rd, by treating the oil with iodine ; and 4th, by acting u|>on laurel 

 camphor with iodine. The following u probably the reaction in the 

 latter eate: 



C,.H,.0, + I, = C..B..O, 4 1HI. 



Camphor. Cunphoertoiole. 



boil* at 449* Fahr., u lighter than, and almost 

 i in water, poaMMea a disagreeable odour and a persistently 

 bitter taste. It bum* with a bright smoky flauie. 

 ll'lliiKTHVI.IC ACID. [CAMPHOR.] 



'..'I,.'. ' VWIK-. This substance u obtained when 

 common camphor (C,H le O,) u dutilled with dry phosphoric acid. It in 

 found alto in the oil of cumin. It forma ith sulphuric acid a compound 

 railed sulphocamphic or hyposulphocamphic acid, C W H I9 S,0 ( + HO. 

 [< 'AUTHOR.] 



CAMPHOLKXE. [CAMPHOR.] 

 iPHt'i.ir ACID. [CAMPHOB.] 

 '.PHul.nXK. [CAMPHOR.] 



c AMI'HoMKTHYLIC ACID. [CAJIFHOR.] 



CAMPHOR ii the stoaropten, or one of the principles arising from 

 the separation of the volatile oil of two trees; the one, CY numomum 

 mmplion (Nees v. Kaenbeok), a native of Japan, China, and Cochin 

 China, yields common or laurel camphor ; the other, Diptcrucarpui 

 rampkora, or DryobaltMopi rttui/Jiura (Colebrooke), a native of Borneo 

 imatra, called Sumatra or Borneo camphor. From these it U 

 procured by different processes. It exists in every part, root, stem, 

 branches, and leaves, of the firat-meutioned tree, which in chopped 

 into pieces sufficiently small to be thrown into iron vessels : these 

 rrawln are afterwards covered with earthen hoods, in which are pb.-.-l 

 rice-straw and rushes, heat being subsequently gradually applied 

 The camphor U volatilised, and afterwards condenses on the straw, 

 rushes, &c. This, after being purified from the intermixture of straws, 

 i* found in commerce under the name of crude camphor, distinguished 

 into Japan or Dutch camphor, and China or Formosa camphor. But 

 it still retains many impurities, and on arrival in Europe U refined, 

 formerly exclusively at Venice, now also in England, Germany, ami 

 Holland. 



From the Diplfrotarpiu camphora it is not procured by distillation, 

 but exists in a solid form in the stem of the tree. In that part of the 

 stem which should be occupied by the pith it is found, along with 

 camphor iil. When tapped or opened while young nothing but oil 

 flows, but in time a great Quantity of this oil assumes the solid* form, 

 and is found at intervale along the trunk in pieces a foot or a foot and 

 a half long. The process of extracting the oil is effected by means of 

 a Malay axe used to lay open the trunk at about eighteen inches from 

 the ground, till near the heart, when a small incision is cautiously 

 made, and the oil, if present, gushes out, and is received into bamboos 

 and other vessel*. If camphor U suspected to be present the tree is 

 felled, cut into pieces about a fathom long, which are then split, and 

 the camphor U found in pieces of the length stated, and about the 

 circumference of the human arm. A tree of moderate sue may yield 

 about eleven pounds, while a very large one may produce twice that 

 quantity. The camphor ao obtained U called He Tantong or head 

 camphor; but the wood which surrounds the camphor on U-ing 

 craped yields an inferior sort, called belly and foot camphor. The 

 camphor from this tree i* much less volatile and transparent than 

 from the former. It is slower in iU effects, but these are more 

 permanent. 



The oil is much priced and used in the East, but is not sent to 

 Europe. So much more is the Borneo and Sumatra camphor esteemed 

 than the other, that even in the markets of Japan seventy-eight |H>unds 

 of the camphor of the latter country will be given hi exchange for one 

 pound of the former. The Borneau camphor is white, like chalk, Imt 

 has the same smell and taste, as that of Japan. 



The process of refining consist* in exposing the camphor in large 

 ovens in flat glass basket*, along with a little charcoal, caustic lime. ..r 

 chalk, during which the Sumatra camphor diffuses an odour like 

 violet*. Refined camphor is in round cakes, convex externally, con- 

 cave internally, generally with a hole in the centre, each weighing 

 about two pound* : the cakes are wrapped in strong blue paper, and 

 exported in packages weighing about 500 pounds, containing 

 251 cake*. 



Camphor is an organic substance of a peculiar kind, representing the 

 volatile oils in a solid state. It differs from them, however, not only 

 in being solid at the ordinary temperature of the air, but in not being 

 converted \y the oxygen of the air into a resin. It is so Tola' 

 on cxprMtire to the air it is entirely volatilised, and leaves no residuum. 

 It has an unctuous feel, poamses considerable tenacity, ami i not 

 easily powdered, without the addition of alcohol, ether, or oil : the 

 Sumatra camphor, however, can be powdered without such aid. It is 

 nearly insoluble in water (requiring 1000 part, for iU solution), but 

 very soluble in alcohol, the ethers, eupion, creosote, the empyreumatic, 



volatile, and fixed oils. It if 



m an unchanged state, on the addition of water. It> .-] 



U 0'9S5 ; its ultimate composition is, accordim; ! Hlauchet anil 



Carbon 79-39 



Hydrogen 10-34 



Oxygen 1037 



At 847 of Fahrenheit's thermometer it melts, at 400 it boils; it U 

 easily ignited, burning with a bright flame and much smoke, but 

 leaving no residuum. IU odour is strong and peculiar, its taste 

 aromatic and bitterish, leaving behind it a feeling of coldness 

 mouth. 



hor acts upon the animal frame, both in the state of vapour 

 and in the solid state. Few insects can endure the pungent od 

 camphor; and in combination with strong acetic acid it acts as a 

 po i-rful stimulant in cases of a disposition to fainting. \Vhm si* or 

 eight grains are received into a stomach in whirl 

 increased sensibility, the person also not being in a ta< 

 incut, the first effect in a feeling of burning and warmth, which 

 gradually extends from the epigastrium over the whole body, occa- 

 sionally accompanied with unpleasant feelings in the stomach, such as 

 slight pain, eructations, Ac. The puke soon rises, beconu - 

 undulating ; the heat of the skin is gently increased, and a warm and 

 gentle but regular perspiration follows. All muscular ai 

 place with more ease ; the nervous system in its whole range is i 

 and strengthened, and a feeling of general comfort pervades the 

 frame. In from one to three hours this state abates, without leaving 

 sleepiness, lassitude, or any unpleasantness behind. 



A larger dose, half a drachm or two scruples, causes a burning heat 

 in the palate and stomach, with pain, disposition to vomit, and great 

 disturbance of the nervous system (the severity of win. h i 

 by the amount of action on the stomach), giddiness, .- 

 striction in the lu-id, ringing of the an, flickering of object* 



-'lings of the limbs, ami iiu]>-.-il>ilit\ of 



maintaining the erect posture, or of walking. During tin coiitin 

 of this state, shiveriugs, with jMlcucsg of the skin and < 

 diminished warmth of skin, a slow, feeble, and contract 

 laborious respiration, and threatening!) of fainting* or convulsion 

 When death results, the stomach is discovered to have been the 

 violent inflammation. Camphor may therefore be regarded as a 

 powerful stimulant, at first local, but afterwards extending to the 

 brain, spinal chord, and ganglion!* system. 



It is used in the low or sinking stage of almost all fevers, particularly 

 where the nervous system is much depressed. At on earlier stage of 

 the same dinnasft, along with antiiuunmls or opium, it often has a 

 very beneficial effect on the skin, promoting regular and warm per- 

 spiration. It has also been used along with nitrate of potassa during 

 the interval of an intermittent fever, to prevent a return of the 

 paroxysm. In exonthematous fevers, such as email-pox, measles, 

 scarlet fever, Ac., it is often very serviceable during the eruptive stage, 

 when the eruption does not come out freely, from want of sufficient 

 nervous energy. In such circumstances, along with serpentaria, it is 

 superior to any other means. 



In chronic nervous diseases, such as cramps, tendency to convulsions 

 of certain kinds, epilepsy, St. Vitus's dance, and similar disorder 

 often a valuable agent or vehicle for other remedies. Its external 

 application as a rubefacient, in cases of cramps and neuralgic pains, is 

 often of great service. The compound camphor liniment, which is a 

 solution of camphor in volatile oil of lavender, alcohol, and ammonia, 

 is an excellent solvent for iodide of potass, furnishing a valuable rube- 

 facieut. Combined with extract or tincture of hyoscyanum it procures 

 sleep iii coses of nervous restlessness. 



In many cases of imtabilit v of tho urinary organs it is useful. 



It is administered either in pon.i, r. in which case it must be 

 minutely divided ami mi.\e<l with other substances, or in aqueous 

 solution (a very feeble preparation, though it possesses th 

 alcoholic solution. When it is dissolved in oil, it forms a 

 application to joints and other parts suffering from ehnm 

 I i. n 



The use of camphor in the l'i in of vapour from a bag carried rouml 

 k.asa piophjlaetie dm ing the prevalence of epidemic fevers, 

 is hurtful. It produces depression of the nervous power, muscular 

 debility, ditlieiilty of respiration, and favours the very action of the 

 morbitic agent which it was intended to prevent Its employment 

 even in museums to protect the objects from insects, and among 

 clothes to ward off inoths, is injurious, if much be volatilised ana 

 diffused through the apartmenU ; besides insects of the section Tinea; 

 which chiefly destroy wood, are not affected by it. 



Camphor exists in several planU and trees besides those above 



ned ; and a substance rwcmbling camphor, and generally con- 



xidered to be such, can be procured from many plants. It is in most 



cases, however, a hydrate of volatile oil, nieh an tho Coumnrin or 



i ih Tonka IH-JUI, Helenin from the Inula !! ! 



An artificial camp! \ iep.n. .1 ).y >), mutual action of hydro- 



chloric acid gas and oil of I m |-nt ue : it is white, possesses a camphor- 

 like odour, is soluble in alcohol, Ac. 



Artificial camphor docn not produce the lesion of the nervous 

 system which is caused by ordinary camphor. It is therefore im- 



