IS 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
able taste, a density of .95, and is very soluble in alcobol and 
ether. 
Experiment 1. — Supposing camphene to be the base of 
the oil, oxygen was transmitted through it for some time, 
with the expectation that absorption would take place, but 
without a favorable result. Another portion of the oil was 
exposed to an atmosphere of oxygen, during fifty hours, with- 
out alteration. A third quantity was distilled from the per- 
oxide of copper, which merely had the effect to deprive it of 
color, and reduce its density to .935. 
Experiment 2. — Oil of camphor was exposed to a tempera- 
ture near zero of Farenheit's scale, which caused it to de- 
posite a small quantity of camphor, having the sensible pro- 
perties of the article of commerce. The greater part of the 
oil retained its fluidity; hence we may infer the quantity of 
camphor held in solution by the oil to be very small. 
Experiment 3. — A portion of the oil which had been deprived 
of most of its camphor by refrigeration, was introduced into a 
small matrass. In another vessel the ingredients for gene- 
rating oxygen were placed, from which vessel a bent tube pro- 
ceeded through the neck of the matrass, nearly to the surface 
of the oil. Upon the application of heat to the respective 
vessels, the oxygen passed over into the matrass, where it 
became intimately mixed with the vapor of the oil, previous 
to its condensation around the neck of the vessel. By con- 
tinuing this operation for a short period, the oil lost its trans- 
parency, was less fluid, and, on standing a few hours, deposited 
a considerable quantity of crystalline matter, identical with 
that obtained by refrigeration. 
Experiment 4. — A portion of oil of camphor was introduced 
into a matrass along with four times its weight of nitric acid. 
Upon raising the temperature, deutoxide of nitrogen was 
rapidly evolved, accompanied by a sort of explosion. After 
continuing the ebullition for a short time, the evolution of the 
deutoxide ceased, and white vapors arose from the liquid, 
which were condensed in a vessel that had been previously 
inverted over the mouth of the matrass. This substance had 
