Camphor

(kam'fur.) [Ar.caphura.] (Chem.) A white, waxy, and semi-transparent substance, crystallizing in octahedra. It melts at 347°, and boils at 3990, although it sublimes to some extent at the ordinary temperature. It has a strong aromatic odor, is very slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in alcohol, ether, and oil, and it burns easily in the air, evolving much smoke. It is obtained by distillation from Camphor a of ficin arum, a plant of the O. Lauraceæ, which is a native of China and Japan. C. is used in medicine, both internally and externally, as a temporary stimulant. It is frequently employed in gout and rheumatism. In small doses, it acts as an anodyne and antispasmodic; in very large doses, it is an irritant poison. It is generally reckoned an anaphrodisiac. Form. C20H1602. [s. 134]