CAMPHOR. 
179 
than that which they procure from Borneo. This preference proba- 
bly depends on the adulteration of the article by the Chinese manu- 
facturer, since the mode of refining it is well known. The process 
pursued in many respects resembles that used in Japan*, and has 
been described by the Pere d’EntrecolIes. j* Fresh gathered branches 
of the tree having been steeped for two or three days in water, are 
then boiled in a proper vessel, being the whole time continually stirred 
about with a stick, till the gum begins to adhere to it in the form of a 
white jelly. The fluid is then poured off* into a glazed vessel, and after 
being at rest for some hours, is found concreted. The crude cam- 
phor is then purified in the following manner. A quantity of the 
finely powdered materials of some old wall, built of earth, is put 
as a first layer at the bottom of a copper basin ; on this is placed a 
layer of camphor, and then another of earth, and so on till the vessel 
is nearly filled ; the series being terminated with a layer of earth. 
Over this is laid a covering of the leaves of the plant Po-ho, perhaps 
a species of Mentha, A second basin is now inverted over the first, 
and luted on. The whole, thus prepared, is put over a regulated fire, 
and submitted to its action for a certain length of time ; it is then 
removed and suffered to cool. The camphor is found to have 
sublimed, and to be attached to the upper basin. It is further re- 
fined by repetitions of the same process. 
Besides the Laurus camphor a, I found another species of laurel 
highly impregnated with the pungency and flavour of the gum, and 
which is probably used by the Chinese for its extraction. It so nearly 
resembled its congener when growing, as to require a close examin- 
ation to distinguish. It is, however, distinctly separated by the form 
of its leaves and the distribution of their nerves. The camphor tree is 
* Lettres Edifiantes, tome xxii. 
f “ Extractio camphorae rusticorum opus estin provincia Satzuma et insulis Gotlio, qui 
radices et ligna in festucas comminuta, cum affusa aqua coquunt in vesica ferrea, impo- 
sitoque capitello fictili amplo, et (ne ex vapore rumpat) rostrato, sublimatam resinam, 
excipiunt, stramini quod capitellum repletat, adherentem.” Amoenit. Exotic, p. 77-* 
A A 2 
