VEGETABLE TALLOW. CAMPHOR. 243 



but it does not burn so well as animal fat. A tree abounds on 

 the Malabar coast of India, termed the Piney, which bears a 

 pulpy fruit, that yields a large quantity of very solid tallow, 

 almost approaching wax in firmness, and very superior, for the 

 manufacture of candles, to animal fat. It is not applied to that 

 use by the natives, however, who (on account of the heat of the 

 climate, which prevents the employment of common tallow can- 

 dles,) are accustomed to burn lamps only, whicb are fed with 

 vegetable oil. This vegetable tallow might probably be imported 

 in great abundance, and at a low rate, into this country. 



383. The last inflammable substance secreted by Plants, 

 which will here be noticed, is Camphor ; which is much used in 

 the composition of varnishes, besides its employment in medicine. 

 Although chiefly obtained from a species of Laurel growing in 

 the East Indies (where it attains the size of an oak), it exists in 

 numerous plants, especially those yielding aromatic oils. Camphor 

 differs in some degree in its properties, according to the way in 

 which it is obtained. In general, pieces of the roots are put into 

 an iron vessel, within the cover of which (fitted closely down) 

 are cords of rice-straw. "When the lower part is heated, the 

 camphor is raised into vapour, and condenses again on the straw 

 above. In old trees, however, the camphor is sometimes found, 

 on splitting the trunk, to exist in a very pure state, in the form 

 of small concretions or tears, in the interior. This camphor 

 undergoes little loss by exposure to the air ; whilst that obtained 

 by heat very rapidly evaporates. Besides the uses of this sub- 

 stance already noticed, it should be mentioned that camphor is 

 valuable as a preservative of specimens of Natural History 

 against the depredations of insects ; and the most effectual way 

 of applying it, is to have the cases made of the wood of the 

 Camphor tree, which is of a white colour, easy to work, and 

 durable. 



384. Opium is the next vegetable secretion which we shall 

 here notice ; and this rather on account of its importance in 

 medicine, than because of the large quantity produced ; since it 

 is mostly employed in a manner injurious, rather than beneficial, 

 to mankind. Opium is contained, in small amount, in the 



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