118 
REVIEW OF MOIROUD’S 
It is particularly useful when applied externally, by removing*, 
in the process of rapid evaporation, a great quantity of caloric 
accumulated on any part, as in certain cerebral congestions, 
and recent burns. If, however, the employment of ether is the 
most expeditious method of removing superficial heat, it is not 
the most economical, nor the most generally employed. 
Camphor. —‘There are few medicines whose action on the 
animal economy is so variable as that of camphor. It is, by 
turns, a diffusible stimulant, or a sedative, according to the dose 
in which it is employed, the manner in which it is administered, 
and the state of the patient: we are, therefore, often puzzled to 
decide to what class of medicines it belongs. 
Applied on the shin or on the cellular membrane, in the form 
of powder or soft paste, it produces no appreciable effect, unless 
the tissues are ulcerated or inflamed, when it lightly reddens 
and irritates them. In cases of gangrene, camphor does not ex¬ 
cite any re-action, but its effects are confined to concealing the 
foetid smell which may proceed from them; but if it be so 
applied that it shall penetrate to a certain depth within the 
tissues, it then rouses the part again to healthy action, modifies 
the sensibility, and leads to salutary changes. In the south, 
and where wounds, and particularly in sheep, so soon take 
on a gangrenous character, many shepherds sprinkle camphor 
over the ulcers with good effect. 
Being brought into contact with the mucous membranes, it 
exerts on them a more pow erful action. Being introduced into 
the stomach, in doses of three or four drachms mingled with oil 
or the yolk of eggs, it produces in the dog uneasiness, trem¬ 
bling, and convulsive motions, resembling' epilepsy. The re¬ 
spiration is laborious, the pulmonary exhalation takes on a 
camphorated smell, and the mouth is filled with frothy saliva. 
Insensibility follows, which is interrupted by deep sighs, and 
which is usually the prelude to death. 
On post-mortem examination, inflammation is found in the 
stomach, with slight ulcerations, especially if the medicine had 
not caused vomiting ; but the lesions are not so decided that we 
could affirm that they were the cause of death. Camphor, in 
these cases, acts on the nervous system, the functions of which 
it perverts. 
Given to the horse, in doses of tw r o ounces, it produces spas¬ 
modic movements and quickness of the pulse, without further 
ill effect. These appearances continue but a short time, and 
are often very slight. 
Camphor easily passes from the digestive canal into the circu¬ 
lation ; but, like other substances that are with difficulty assi- 
