ARTSF1CI/AL CAMPHOR. 1 SS 



"It was entirely diffolved by alcohol, but not fo Howly as 

 common camphor, and was precipitated unaltered by water. 



"Concentrated nitric acid affected it3 folution, at firft tran- 

 quilly, but afterwards with a difengagement of nitrous gas and „ 

 heat. The mixture became turbid by the addition of water, 

 but did not depofit camphor." 



He concludes from thefe experiments that this product com- 

 ported it felf exactly like camphor, except with the nitric acid; 

 but he believes that this difference may depend on a fmall 

 quantity of muriatic acid, or a little oil of turpentine, from 

 w. -"ch it is very difficult to free it entirely. 



M. Trommfdorff afterwards difengaged the gas from a 

 quantity of muriate of foda equal to that employed in the firft 

 •experiment, through the matter remaining in the bottle ; but 

 he found that inftead of augmenting, the camphorized part 

 diminished in quantity, loft its camphoric odour, and the alter- 

 ation of its other properties induced thischemift to believe that 

 the new addition of gas had caufed it to undergo a decompo- 

 sition. 



The above experiments, repeated with the greateft at ten- Repetition of 



lion, gave us fatislactory remits, even with the different fpe- thefe ex P er , 1 " 

 "...,.. . J „ l ments by the 



cies ot oil or turpentine or commerce. reports. 



The importance of the fubject, and the objections mndeby 

 fome members, at the reading of the obfervation which lead 

 to this report, made us fenfible how much the labours of M. 

 Kind left to be wifhed for; the quantities of the product a!(b 

 not being indicated, we thought we fliould accomplifli the in- 

 tention of the Society, in following the track marked out by 

 the author, if we endeavoured to add fome facts to tiiol'e he 

 has publifned, and wepropofed the following queliions for our 

 guidance. 



I ft. Does the gazeous muriatic acid ferve to determine the Queftjens tot 

 re-action of the principles of the oil of turpentine, and to change " ■ ^ ■■ "* 

 their proportion, to form the camphor; or, is its action limited 

 to ihfulatirvg this immediate principle, from the oil with winch 

 it was not combined ?" 



2nd. What is the quantity of the camphoric product ? 



3rd. Will a greater quantity of the gas than that indicated 

 by M. Kind add to the product, or will it deftroy it? 



4-th. Will another quantity of gas added to the liquor which 

 has yielded the camphor, and from which it has been feparated, 

 determine a new formation of this principle in it ? 



5th. What 



