ON FLUID CAMPHOR. 
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ART. XXV.— ON FLUID CAMPHOR. 
By Sir. J. Murray. 
1 WISH to bring before the notice of the Pharmaceutica! 
Society, ^permanent solution of camphor, which I sub- 
mitted in my Thesis at Edinburgh to the Faculty of that 
University in 1838. I have had so many proofs of its 
superiority over crude camphor, and its ordinary prepara- 
tions, that I have been induced to bring it out more promi- 
nently before the medical profession and the public. The 
proportions found most beneficial during twenty years' 
experience are three grains of camphor and six grains of 
bicarbonate of magnesia to each ounce of the fluid. The 
magnesia is shown by boiling the liquor, the camphor by 
saturating a glass of the solution with muriate of soda or 
any dry salt. By thus abstracting part of the water, the 
camphor is set free, and rises in flakes, like snow, forming 
a frost-work crust on the surface. 
This is a homely experiment, but it is more speedy at a 
meeting or lecture than more elaborate analysis. The 
specific gravity of the fluid camphor is 10.02G, water being 
10,000. The very moderate proportion of magnesia does 
not interfere with the virtues of the camphor ; but on the 
contrary, by neutralizing gastric acids, the properties of the 
camphor are more favourably displayed. This has been 
particularly observed during the present low fevers and 
bowel complaints, when the fluid was used alone, or as the 
vehicle for laudaimm, tonics, or astringents. 
Perhaps a few remarks may be allowed respecting the 
remedial agency of fluid camphor. It has undoubtedly 
succeeded in soothing and composing the nerves, in cases 
where solid camphor irritated and disturbed them. 
When exhibited in powder, pill, or bolus, or, what is 
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