514 
Camphor  Tree. 
/  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I     October,  1897. 
The  principles  generally  held  to  be  essential  in  distilling  camphor 
of  good  quality  are :  (i)  The  heat  must  be  uniform  and  not  too 
great,  producing  a  steady  supply  of  steam ;  (2)  the  steam,  after 
liberating  the  camphor,  must  not  come  in  contact  with  metal,  that  is, 
the  tub  and  condensing  apparatus  must  be  of  wood. 
SUGGESTED  IMPROVEMENTS. 
Many  improvements  upon  the  methods  described  can  doubtless 
be  made,  tending  both  to  a  reduction  in  cost  and  an  increase  in  the 
proportion  of  crude  gum  obtained.  Instead  of  an  adz  wielded  by 
hand  labor  a  machine  similar  to  the  "  hog  "  used  for  grinding  up 
waste  slabs  in  saw-mills  may  be  used  to  reduce  camphor  limbs  to 
the  requisite  fineness  for  distillation.  Better  distilling  apparatus  can 
probably  be  devised.  Thermometers  may  be  introduced  to  deter- 
mine the  heat  in  the  distilling  tub,  an  \  the  furnace  may  be  so  arranged 
as  to  permit  better  control  and  greater  economy  in  fuel.  Camphor 
and  camphor  oil  are  both  slightly  soluble  in  water,  and  the  con- 
densing chamber  should  be  improved  so  as  to  recover  the  product 
that  is  being  constantly  carried  off  in  the  running  stream  which 
cools  the  chamber. 
OUTLOOK  FOR  FUTURE  MARKET. 
The  consumption  of  camphor  in  this  country,  as  measured  by  the 
importations,  has  been  decreasing  during  the  past  ten  years,  while 
the  price  has  been  increasing,  as  indicated  by  the  following  table: 
IMPORTS,  VALUES  AND  APPROXIMATE  VALUES  PER  POUND  OF  CAMPHOR  FOR 
YEARS   ENDED   JUNE  30,   1S87-1896,   AND   FOR  NINE 
MONTHS  ENDED  MARCH  3r,  1897. 
Crude  Camphor— Duty  Free. 
Refined  Camphor — Dutiable. 
Years. 
Quantities. 
Values. 
Value 
pound. 
Quantities. 
Values. 
Value 
pound. 
Rates  of 
Duty. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
Per  lb. 
1887  
1888  
1889  
1890  
1891  
1892  
1893  
1894  
1895  
1896  
2,873,184 
2,779,719 
1,974,500 
2,061,370 
1,666,074 
1,955,787 
1.723,425 
1,323-932 
1,509,713 
943,205 
$352,861.00 
304.460.00 
293,031.44 
421,385.00 
468,025.00 
447,634.00 
446,545-00 
309,407.00 
284,958.00 
328,457.00 
$0.12 
.11 
•15 
.20 
.28 
.23 
.26 
.23 
•19 
•35 
307 
61 
72 
87 
63 
56,820 
156,291 
137,882 
271,164 
153,912 
$45.00 
7-77 
10.50 
37-75 
21.23 
17.361.00 
51,229.33 
44,233.00 
83,382.00 
68,785.00 
go-15 
•13 
•  15 
•43 
•33 
•31 
•33 
•32 
.31 
•45 
5  cents. 
do 
do 
do 
4  cents. 
do 
do 
do 
(*) 
(*) 
For  9  months,  March 
31.  1897  (latest  re- 
ports obtainable)  . 
855,284 
207,137.77 
.24 
I55i°27 
52,811.00 
•34 
(*) 
*  Ten  per  cent,  ad  valorem. 
