178 MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



Peppermint eaiiiphor, also known as menthol, C.'i,,HooO, 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 jjowerful a poison as laurinol, yet 

 serious results mux follow its careless internal use. 



Fig. 109. — Ijaurcl-camphor Tree (CiiiiKimuiniim Camphora, Laurel Family, 

 Liiumc::ic). Flowering branch, i. (Baillon.) — Tree growing 12 m! 

 tall; leaves thick; flowcr.s yellow; berry dark rod. 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 ehnnents as volatile oils, but 

 with a larger proportion of oxvg(>n. On this account and 



