Camphor — Isinglass. #87 



the observations of Mr. O'Reiley, the plant seems to be very 

 abundant, and the method of manufacture both simple and 

 efficient, so that there would not appear to be any obstacle 

 to the article becoming an important production. In its re- 

 fined form, it is identical in all its properties with Chinese 

 Camphor. 



Isinglass. 



Since the remarks on Isinglass detailed in the commence- 

 ment of the present number were printed, a very important 

 observation has been made relative to the structure of the 

 air vessel of Polynemus Sele, which will lead to the perfect 

 purity of the Isinglass, and place it on a footing with the 

 best Russian description of the article ; while the abundance 

 in which it is afforded by this fish, cannot fail to render it 

 an object of great importance. When examining a sample of 

 the article received from Mr. O'Reiley of Amherst, weighing 

 12 lbs., and which cost on the Tenasserim Coast 4 rupees, 

 it was found that each piece, from which the outer and inner 

 membranes are removed, consists of an outer and an inner 

 structure. The outer structure consists of a thin lamina 

 composed of oblique fibres, which are easily seen passing 

 diagonally over the surface, and composing about ten per 

 cent, of the whole. If the mass be divided crosswise into 

 narrow sections, the transverse fibres may be perfectly se- 

 parated into fine silky fibres, which consist entirely of 

 pure isinglass. Mr. Scott, the Assistant, who was em- 

 ployed in the examination, suggested the separate ana- 

 lysis of the outer oblique fibres, when it was found that 

 they consisted entirely of Jibrin, and contained all the impu- 

 rities for which the Bengal Isinglass had hitherto been con- 

 sidered inferior. 



Comparing one of the sections from which the oblique 

 fibres had been removed, (No. 5 in the annexed table,) with 

 a specimen of Isinglass received from Dr. Royle, (No. 1 in the 

 annexed table,) and said to be very pure, the resemblance was 



