CAMPHOR

n. Ka2m'fo2r. From old Lat., caphura, from Ar., Kdfur, and this probably from Sansc. karpura, white. [B, 18.J Lat., camphor a, camphor a depurata [Finn. Ph.] Fr., camphre, camphre du Japan [Fr. Cod]. Ger., Campher, Kampher. It., can for a. Sp., alcanfor. Syn.: laurinol, Chinese c. 1. A concrete volatile oil (stearoptene), C10H1(,O, obtained from the wood of the Cinnamomum camphor a by distillation with water. That exported from Formosa (Formosa or Chinese c.) comes usually in chests lined with lead foil; Japan c., which is more valued and contains fewer impurities, comes packed in bamboos. The crude c. is purified by sublimation, forming flowers of c. (camphor a depurata), the proce being performed either in gla jars, when the o. is obtained in the form of cakes, or in iron retorts, when the c. is procured in flat discs. It forms tough, white, lustrous ma es, composed of tubular or prismatic doubly refracting crystals, having a peculiar, well-marked odor and taste, imparting to the mouth a sensation of warmth, followed by that of coolne . It is volatile at ordinary temperatures and burns readily with a bright, smoky flame. Thrown into water, it exhibits peculiar gyratory movements. It is readily soluble in alcohol, in ether, in chloroform, and in the fixed and volatile oils; nearly insoluble in water. Its solution is highly Is evo rotary. It is thought to po e stimulant, antispasmodic, and anodyne properties. Taken in exce , it acts as an irritant narcotic poison, pro lucing epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, maniacal delirium, and convulsions. Its structural formula, according to Kekule, is C8 [H3,H(C3H7),Ha,H,CH3,O]. Other structural formulae have been deduced; by Kachler, CHo,- CHQ,C(C3H2) - CO - CH,CHa.CH2; by Armstrong, CH-CH^CH = CH - O - CH = C(CH3),CH2,CH,CH3. 2. A name applied to a aeries of solid volatile principles obtained by distillation from vegetable substances, having the constitution of oxygenated hydrocarbons and in many ways acting as alcohols. They comprise four cla es: (a) Substances of the composition CJOH., O, such as menthol; (b) substances of the composition C10Hi 8O, (Borneo c., Ngai c., oil of valerian, oil of cajuput, and numerous other oils, together with the homologous oil of angustura, C13Ha4O); (c) substances of the composition C, 5H28O, (patchouli c., etc.); (d) substances of the composition C10H, 8O, (ordinary c., Matric aria c.. alant c., oil of eucalyptus, oil of wormwood, etc.). [B, 4, 5, 172, 270.] Acid of c. An old name for camphoric acid. [B, 86.] Acidulated mixture of c. See Mlxtura e CAMPHOR A cum ace to. Alyxia c. See under ALV/XIA. Anise c. See ANISE c. and ANKTHOL. Artificial c. Fr., camphre artiflciel. Ger., kunstlicher Campher. A terpene hydrochloride, C10H 16HC1. formed by the action of hydrochloric acid on oil of turpentine; a solid closely resembling ordinary c. [B, 4, 270.] See also Liquid artificial c. Asarabacca c., AsaO. no; O2, not; O, whole; Th, thin; Th2, the; U, like oo in too; [s. 45]