C A ( 227 ) C A 
wood-water ; foment the 
Region of the Liver with 
it, with a Spunge prefs‘c 
out of Wormwood-wine. 
This has been ufed in a 
Dropfie. 
Catttpfjtt > i n Latin 
Camphor a. Camphir was 
unknown to the Ancient 
Grecians : It began firft to 
be taken notice of by the 
Arabians. Whether it is 
hot or cold, is not agreed 
on by Authors. The An- 
cients counted it cold, be- 
caufe it extinguifh'd Vene 
ry, and cured Inflamma- 
tions of the Eyes j and for 
that being put upon Burns, 
it feem’d as cold as Snow. 
But Modern Phyficians af- 
firm, *tis hot, on the con- 
trary : Their Arguments 
for it are, the great Ir- 
flammability of it ; its pe, 
netrating, Aromatick Smell . 
and Acrid Tafte ; its rea- 
dinefs to evaporate, by rea 
fonof the Tenuity ofParts. 
Which Opinion, indeed, 
feems moft probable ; for 
the contrary Arguments are 
eafily anfwer’d. For, if it 
Ihould be granted that it 
fuppreffes Venery, it doth 
not therefore neceffarily 
follow thatdt is cold ; for 
io doth Rue, and the chafte 
Tree, and the iike. Yet 
Breynius faith, v it doth not 
extinguifh Venery : For* 
fays he, it hath been ob- 
ferv’d, that many who have 
been employ’d in purifying 
Camphir daily, have had 
many Children. And then, 
tho’ it be of ufe in many 
Difeafesthat require Cool- 
ing, as, in Inflammations 
of the Eyes, and Eryfipela’s 
Severs, and the like j yet 
they fay, Cooling in thefe 
Cafes, by this Medicine, is. 
not per fc, but per acci- 
dent j much in the fame 
manner as the Inflamma- 
tion of a Member burnt is 
drawn out hy the Heat of 
the Fire, or the Flame of 
a Candle, or, as by the 
immoderate ufe of Peppery 
the native Heat is driven 
out, and is lefs within ; 
and fo the Body becomes 
cold. Some mention othef 
Ways whereby thefe things 
may be perform’d ; which 
I omit, partly becaufe they 
are not fatisfadtory, and 
partly becaufe it is not 
clear , whether Camphir 
doth good in thefe Difeafes#. 
or whether it be injurious,’ 
Q. % Camphir 
