190 



DICOTYLEDONS LAURACE^ DIAGRAM 15. 



Cinnamon Tree. 



the large quantity of prussic acid which they contain, which 

 renders the cordial called cherry-laurel-water, which is distilled 

 from them, a most dangerous specific. 



Cinnamon is the bark of a kind of laurel 

 which grows in the East Indies. The 

 young branches are cut down, and the 

 bark is peeled off and dried, after which it 

 is rolled into the form in which it is 

 known in commerce. 



Camphor is produced by a large kind of 

 laurel which is found in China and Japan. 

 The camphor exists in the sap ; and when 

 an incision is made in the bark, the liquid 

 which exudes dries, leaving camphor. 

 But this method of extracting it, whicli is similar to that used to 

 procure opium, would be too costly. The broken branches and 

 roots of the tree are simply boiled, and the camphor then separates 

 from them. It is sent to Europe in greyish masses, which are 

 purified to give the camphor the whiteness which it possesses 

 when sold. One curious peculiarity which camphor exhibits is its 

 behaviour when a small piece is put into water. If the water is 

 very pure, and the vessel very clean, the camphor at the surface 

 becomes agitated, and darts about in every direction ; but if the 

 point of a knife which is a little greasy is dipped into the water, 

 the camphor at once ceases its movements, and will not move 

 again on the same water. When the camphor itself has touched 

 a slightly greasy substance, these motions do not show themselves; 

 and it is therefore necessary for the success of this experiment that 

 both the vessel and the water should be as clean as possible. 



