Camphor, a white, solid, transparent resin, of a very volatile penetrating smell, and a bitterish aromatic pungent taste, accompanied with a sense 0f coolness. It is chiefly extracted from the wood and roots of the Laurus Cam-p/iora, L a tree growing in Sumatra and Japan; but may also be obtained in small quantities, by distil-lation, from a variety of vegetables, such as the peppermint, cardamoms, etc. in which it may easily be discovered by their peculiar camphorated odour, and their cooling pungent taste From these, the camphor may be disengaged by distillation, either in a pure state, or in combination with essential oils. In order to separate it, dissolve the •whole of the camphorated oil thus obtained in a proportionate quantity of alcohol; then dilute this solution with twelve times the quantity of distilled water: if the oil contain no camphor, the water used for the mixture will remain clear and transparent; the alcohol will gradually combine with it, and the oily particles separate. On the contrary, if the oil be mixed with camphor, the whole mixture will be converted into a milky liquor, from which the camphor will be gradually precipitated in the form of a white powder, while the oily parts ascend to the surface of the water. By melting this powder in a close glass vessel, over a moderate tire, it will assume the concrete form of camphor ; though the remaining liquid will retain a small portion of this substance, as well as of essential oil.

Camphor is justly esteemed one of the most efficacious medicines for promoting perspiration, relieving spasms, and resisting putrefaction : hence it has long been celebrated in malignant fevers, and epidemical distempers. In delirium, it frequently procures a composed rest, after opiates have failed of success. In modern practice, however, it is chiefly employed externally, to diminish inflammation, to disperse tumors, to obviate mortification, to stimulate in cases of local palsy, and to allay rheumatic and paralytic pains. We state, on the authority of Dr. C. I. Hoffmann, of Mayence, the oldest physician now living in Germany, that camphorated applications in the malignant, confluent small-pox, are often the only means of saving the patient's life; and that be once. restored to health a young lady in a hopeless situation, by using, in the course of twelve days, not less than eighty-four ounces of solid camphor, chiefly in the form of an ointment made with the yolk of eggs, spread on clean napkins, and applied, as often as they became dry, over the whole body.

Internally, camphor is given in nervous affections, in order to excite the vital power, and alleviate spasmodic complaints. It is recommended as singularly efficacious in cases of ardor urine, or scalding of the urine, and nervous head-achs : the dose may be increased from three to twenty grains; and, in cases of madness, from five to thir-ty grains; two, or three times a day, after the necessary bleedings, purgatives, and the tepid bath. - To render camphor properly diffusible in water, it should first be dissolved in a little spirit of wine, or expressed oil, and then well triturated with mucilage of gum arabic.