112 
On  Powdered  Camphor, 
f  Am.  Jouk.  Pharm. 
t  March  1, 1872. 
ON  POWDERED  CAMPHOR. 
By  John  C.  Lowd. 
Query  2. — How  may  Camphor  be  reduced  to  a  fine  powder,  and  retained  iu 
the  pulverulent  condition  ? 
The  query  on  this  subject  having  been  referred  to  the  writer,  he 
hereby  submits  to  your  honorable  body  the  result  of  an  experiment. 
The  various  methods  for  reducing  camphor  to  a  fine  powder,  sug- 
gested by  different  writers,  are  singularly  deficient.  The  objections 
are  the  expense  and  incomplete  results,  through  the  moist  condition 
of  the  powder  when  precipitated  from  an  alcoholic  solution,  rendering 
it  unavailable  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  largely  employed  in  the 
manufacture  of  errhines,  tooth  powders,  &c. 
Camphor  possesses  the  advantageous  property  of  resublimation 
without  losing  any  of  its  valuable  qualities.  This  furnishes  a  sug- 
gestive hint  capable  of  being  carried  out  in  the  preparation  of  a  fine 
powder.  The  method  I  have  tried  with  complete  success,  consists  in 
vaporizing  the  camphor  from  a  retort  into  a  large  chamber,  and  its 
collection  in  the  form  of  a  fine  dry  powder. 
The  apparatus  used  consists  of  a  four-wick  lamp,  containing  one 
pint  of  alcohol ;  a  copper  retort  four  inches  diameter  by  ten  inches 
high,  having  a  curved  neck  fourteen  inches  long  and  two  inches 
diameter  ;  a  chamber  or  receiver  made  of  strong  paper,  rendered 
impervious  by  any  suitable  sizing.  The  paper  is  stretched  upon  a 
light  frame  of  wood,  so  as  to  form  a  cubical  chamber  of  three  feet  in 
length,  breadth,  and  height,  with  an  aperture  on  one  side  within  a 
foot  of  the  top,  in  order  to  receive  the  neck  of  the  retort.  Care  must 
be  taken  to  lute  around  the  joint  where  the  retort  connects  with  the 
receiver  on  account  of  the  imflammability  of  the  vapor.  The  quan- 
tity used  is  one  pound  of  camphor,  and  the  time  required  to  sublime 
it  about  thirty  minutes. 
The  advantages  of  this  process  are  its  availability  and  economy,  the 
perfect  condition  of  the  powder  as  to  its  purity,  dryness,  and  degree 
of  fineness.  It  will  retain  its  pulverulent  condition  if  kept  in  full 
bottles,  well  worked,  in  a  cool  place. — Proceedings  of  the  Amer.  Phar. 
Assoc.,  1871. 
Boston,  Mass. 
