CAMPHOR is the stearopten (or one of the principles arising from the separation of the volatile oil) of two trees—the one Ctinna monium camphora, a native of Japan, China, and Cochin China ; the other, Dipterocarpus camphora, a native of Borneo and Sumatra. From these it is procured by different pro cesses. It exists in every part—root, stem, branches, and leaves—of the Cinnamomum camphora, which is chopped into pieces suffi ciently small to be thrown into iron vessels : these vessels are afterwards covered with earthern hoods, in which are placed rice-straw and rushes, heat being subsequently gradually applied. The camphor is volatilised, and after wards condenses on the straws, rushes, &c. This, after being purified from the intermix ture of straws, is found in commerce under the name of crude camphor.
From the Dipterocarpus camphora it is not procured by distillation, but exists in a solid form in the stem of the tree. In that part of
the stem which should be occupied by the pith it is found along with camphor-oil, and ou the trunk being split open the camphor is found in the centre, in pieces about a foot long, which is much prized and used in the East, but is not sent to Europe.
Camphor is an organic substance of a pecu liar kind, representing the volatile oils in a solid state. It is so volatile, that on exposure to the air it is entirely volatilised, and leaves no residuum. It is insoluble in water, but is easily dissolved in spirit, is inflammable, and has an aromatic smell and taste. It is much employed in medicine.
Two substances, called camphor oil and camphoric acid, are obtained from camphor : they are not much employed.