ON CAMPHOR. 
57 
to contain a very much larger proportion than is procured 
by the method just stated. Should it prove to be of any 
considerable value, or at all approaching to that placed on 
it by the Chinese who made it, the yearly produce of these 
jungles would amount to a very considerable item. On this 
head I shall be most happy to hear from you." 
With regard to the letter of Mr. O'Reiley, we referred to 
Dr. Voigt, of Serampore, for information relative to the plant 
affording the Camphor, of which specimens both of the plant 
itself, and of the crude camphor afforded by it, had been 
forwarded by Mr. O'Reiley. Regarding the plant, Dr« 
Voigt states, that it belongs to De Candolle's genus Blumia* 
and is, as far as he can see, a new species ; the genus how- 
ever affords, Dr. Voigt remarks, several species presenting 
camphoraceous properties. The sample of camphor for- 
warded by Mr. O'Reiley, as obtained from the plant in 
question, which appears to be very common on the Tenas- 
serim Coast, we placed in the hands of the Laboratory 
Assistant in the Honorable Company's Dispensary, in order 
to have a portion of it refined, and also that the various 
preparations of camphor in medical use might be prepared 
from it, which has been done accordingly, and the samples 
of the different articles obtained have been submitted, through 
the proper channel, to the Medical Board. 
In refining this camphor, there is a loss of about 25 per 
cent, of its weight. The ordinary loss in refining China 
camphor is about 19 per cent. Taking the value of the 
latter at 4s. 8d. per lb. in its crude state, the usual rate be- 
ing, for the present year, 2 rupees 8 annas per lb., that of 
the former would be 3s. 9d.-, but last year the article was 
obtained for 2 rupees per lb., or lid. per lb. less than its 
cost this year, so that the Tenasserim camphor would re- 
quire to be delivered at 2s. 10^., or 1 rupee 5 annas per lb., 
in order to compete with the Chinese article. From the 
observations of Mr. O'Reiley, the plant seems to be very 
abundant, and the method of manufacture both simple an d 
