— 170 — 



Furbringer 1 ) recommends as a protective remedy against the stings 

 of mosquitos, a strong solution of camphor in mistura oleoso-balsarnica, to 

 which, where the skin is not too sensitive, a little clove oil can be added. 

 The hands, face and hair, and in the case of children also the legs, are 

 thoroughly washed with this mixture. So far as Furbringer's experience 

 goes, however, the remedy is not an absolutely reliable one. 



H. Sassen 2 ) has investigated the physiological action of borneol 

 and isoborneol, and of natural and synthetic camphor. He determined 

 by experiments that in the case of the carnivora no material differences 

 can be recorded in the action of natural and of artificial camphor. Both* 

 camphors cause an increase in reflex irritability in cats as well as in 

 dogs, which may reach a point at which epileptic convulsions set in. 

 Both for natural and for synthetic camphor the fatal dose is 2 g. per 1 kilo 

 weight of the animal. Borneol and isoborneol agree completely as re- 

 gards their action upon the central nerve-system, but the symptoms ob- 

 served in cats and in dogs after administration were markedly different. 

 In the case of cats the reflex irritability was increased, in that of dogs it 

 was reduced. In the former case a dose of 1 g. per 1 kilo weight of 

 the animal proved fatal, whereas a dog survived even a dose of 5 g. per 

 1 kilo of its weight. In this instance, however, a dose of 6 g. also had 

 a fatal effect. 



There are perceptible, although not considerable, differences between 

 the four varieties of camphor so far as their action upon the temperature 

 of the body is concerned. 



The most important result of the investigations was the ascertainment 

 of the fact that both natural and synthetic camphor, administered in doses 

 of 0,025 and 0,05 g. per kilo to suitably selected experimental animals 

 caused a perceptible increase in the activity of the heart, even where 

 that organ was intact; but this increase is less pronounced in the case 

 of borneol and iso-bomeo\ than in that of camphor. 



Two cases have recently been reported illustrating the toxic action of 

 camphor. In the first of these 3 ), a stoker, "to cure his cough", swallowed 

 an alcoholic solution of about 5 g. camphor; in the second 4 ), an infant 

 of 16 months accidentally took about 15 g. Ol. camphorat Ph. Br. containing 

 about 20°/o of the drug. The first case, which did not end fatally, was 



i) Quoted from Pharm. Zentralbl. 51 (1910), 730. 



2 ) Vergleichende Untersuchungen uber die Wirkung einiger Campherarten. Inaug.-Disser- 

 tation for the Vet. Med. Fac. of the University of Berne. From a copy kindly sent to us. 

 Comp. Report October 1903, 80; October 1905, 88; April 1908, 176; November 1908, 161; 

 April 1909, 113. 



3 ) Neumann, Therap. Monatsh. 24 (1910), 325. 

 *) Barker, Brit. med. Journ. 16 April, 1910; quoted from Therap. Monatsh. 24 (1910), 326, 





