LAURUS CAMPHORA. 221 
vibrations in a minute, sufficiently establish its sedative character ; 
and though some instances might show a contrary effect, they are 
such as usually occur from the use of medicines universally ad- 
mitted to be the most powerful of this class, and are to be explained 
as a secondary effect upon the principle of a reaction in the 
system." Camphor has been much used in fevers of all kmds. 
part'cularly those of the typhoid kind ; in low nervous fevers attended 
with delirium and watchfulness, Dr. CuUen says be has employed it 
with advantage ; in putrid fevers it has been math resorted to, and 
on this head Dr. Cullen says-" from the very remarkable antiseptic 
powers which it discovers in experiments out oT the body, it is very 
probable that when thrown into the body in large quantities, so that 
at least its more subtile parts may be diffused over the whole system, 
it may be expected to produce considerable antiseptic effects." As 
a stimulant and antiseptic it has been given with good results, both 
alone and as an adjuiict to bark and opium, in cynanche mahgna 
confluent small-pox, and malignant measles; in the treatment of 
that peculiar and very malignant fever which has so long prevailed 
in Dublin and other parts of Ireland, camphor has been much used, 
particularly in the latter stage of the fever. In spasmodic affections, 
as hysteria, epilepsy, chorea, asthma, painful menstruation, hypo- 
chondria, &c. camphor has been found eminently useful. Dr. Cullen 
has had several instances of a paroxysm of epilepsy which was 
expected in the night, prevented by a dose of camphor at bed-time, 
even when the camphor was given alone, but he found it especially 
useful when given in conjunction with ammoniated copper, the 
sulphate, or the the flowers of zinc. From its narcotic and anodyne 
effects which are produced without any material increase of the 
pulse, it has been successfully employed to allay pain and irritation 
in acute rheumatism, gonorrhoea, gout, pneumonia, and other inflam- 
matory diseases, as mania and inflammatory fevers; m these cases 
it should be preceded by evacuations, and given in combination 
with nitre or antimonials, and in maniacal cases with opium. Dr. 
Cullen did not find much benefit to result from the use of camphor 
in mania, but manv of the continental physicians have recorded 
cases in which it ha; been attended with the best effects. Camphor 
is sometimes given to obviate the irritating effects of other medicines, 
as cantharides, mezereon, squill, the saline preparations of mercury, 
and drastic purgatives; Dr. Cullen did not find it to possess tins 
latter property. In moderate doses camphor operates as a cordial, 
increasing the heat of the body, and exhilarating the spirits ; it 
likewise softens and renders fuller the pulse, and promotes diapho- 
