178 MEDICINAL. AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



Peppermint camphor, also known as menthol, CmHooO, is 

 a substance of closely similar properties which is obtained 

 from the volatile oil of peppermint and related species of 

 plants. Its important uses are too familiar to need mention- 

 ing. Although not so powerful a poison as laurinol, yet 

 serious results mav follow its careless internal use. 



Fig. 169. — Ltmrcl-caniphor Tree {Cinnamomum Camphora, Laurel Family, 

 Lanraccw). Flowering branch, J. (Baillon.) — Tree growing 12 m. 

 tall; leaves thick; flowens yellow; berry dark red. Native home, China 

 and Japan. 



Resins are non-crystalline solids or semisolids, soluble gen- 

 erally in alcohol, ether, and volatile oils, but insoluble in 

 water. They contain the same elements as volatile oils, but 

 with a larger proportion of ox\'gen. On this account and 



