Note 437 — PHARMACOLOGIA. (continued 2)

Although the Camphor of commerce is generally furnished by the Laurus Camphora, yet it is abundantly yielded by many other plants. It is said that what is imported from Sumatra is the product of the Dryobobans Camphora. It is also contained in the roots of the Cinnamon, Cassia, and Sassafras laurels, and in those of Galangale, Zedoary, and Ginger; in Cardamom seeds and Long Pepper. The essential oils of Lavender, Sage, Thyme, Peppermint, Rosemary, and those of many other labiate plants yield camphor by distillation. Camphor may be also artificially formed by driving a stream of muriatic gas through oil of turpentine; this factitious product, however, is to be distinguished from native camphor in not being soluble in weak nitric acid, and also in not being precipitated by water from its solution in strong nitric acid.