244 Treatise on 
Ammonkck are altogether incapable of changing 
it. Whence it appears that Camphore is a Refin of 
a peculiar Nature, confifting of oily and acid Par- 
ticles ; and that the acid is fo very fine and fub- 
tile as to be difcoverable only by Deflagration. 
Neither Diofcorides , nor Galen y nor any of the 
ancient Greeks , before Aetius , have mentioned it ; 
but the Arabians were well acquainted with its 
Ufe. 
Authors difpute much about its Quality, fome 
aflerting that it is hot, others that it is cold. They 
who aflfert that Camphore is cold, alledge as an 
Argument, that it extinguifhes Luft and Venery ; 
that it cures Ophthalmies, Inflammations, and Burns ♦, 
and likewife creates a Senfation of Cold when ap- 
plied to the Part affe&ed. The others, on the con- 
trary, argue that it is hot from its great Inflamma- 
bility, its fragrant, aromatick Scent, its piercing 
Tafte, and the Finenefs and Volatility of its Parts. 
And this Opinion is the more probable : For though 
it be a common Proverb, 
Camphor a per Nares cafirat odore Mares , 
the Truth of it, however [common, may reafon- 
ably be called in Queftion *, fince it hath been ob- 
ferved that many People, who are employed all 
their Lives in Japan in procuring it from the Trees, 
and in Holland alfo in the Purification of it, have 
yet no apparent Impotency ; being often the Fa- 
thers of many Children. It is true, indeed, that 
the Force of Nature in fome Perfons hath been im- 
paired, and even deftroyed by a long Ufe of Cam- 
phore ; but others on the contrary, who have 
taken it in order to moderate their Defires, have 
afterwards complained that they were more lafcivi- 
ous than before. Therefore, though this Drug has 
a Pro- 
