The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-01-09
ScTEN TIEIc READING.
CamphOr and the Camphor Tree.

TAMPHOR is a concrete gum, with
" bitterish aromatic taste, and as medi-
cine is powerful diaphoretic. Camphor
is derived from the word Kofar, to drive
off or remove hence, to cleanse, to make
atonement. The drug, when pure, is
the product of the Laurus Camphora, or
Indian laurel tree, which is native of
China, Japan, and the islands of Borneo
and Sumatra. The camphor tree is of
large size, and frequently atttains the
height of 800 feet, although its usual height
is about 150 feet. The trunk is sometimes
of immense circumference, grows very
straight, and has gigantic crown of lux
uriant verdure, that overtops all other trees.
Three varieties of camphor are known to
commerce. The best is found in Summa-
ira and Borneo. The trade in this is most
ly monopolized by the Chinese, who hold it
at very high prices This quality is known
as Baros or Malay camphor, and has brought
100 guilders per catty, when like guam
tity of Japanese gum was valued at only Is
guilders. The natives of Summarize profess
to distinguish three kinds of camphor-tree
as growing on that island alone. These
they name Matlanguan, Marbin Lugun, and
MarJiD T'drgun, according to the outward
coloring of the bark, which varies, being
at times yellow, black and red The bark
is always rough and grooved, and is usually
overgrown with moss. In texture the rind
is very thick, and is close set and very
strong. The difference in color which it
undergoes is by many persons attributed to
the age of the tree, or the nature and pc
culiarites of the situation that mark its de-
velopment. The leaves are dark green,
oblong-oval in shape, and pointed. They
are fragrant and very tough. These trees
bear fruit much resembling an acorn /;
but it has surrounding it five petals, shaped
something like lily. The fruit is impreg-
natives when ripe and fresh. The tree
drops its fruit in the Spring. When eaten
with sugar It's deemed very great luxury.
| During the Towering season the tree emits
unhealthy exlialations, and is, consequent
ly, avoided by the inhabitants. The gum
for which this tree is chiefly valued is OBJ
tained by telling the trunk, dividing it into
pieces and then splitting into quarters.
The substance is found in small compact
flakes, situated in irregular veins or fis-
sures, near the heart of tho wood. These
concrete Jumps of camphor are extracted
by the aid of sharp pointed instrument
made for that purpose. Trees vary great
ly in the quantity of gum which they con
tain, many Of them yielding from half
pound to three times that amount Very
large and exceedingly fine trees have been
known TO produce as high as twenty
pounds, but these were exceptional cases.
After being obtained the substance is re-
peatedly soaked and washed in water, to
separate from it all extraneous matter. II
is subsequently passed through several
sieves Of different fineness, and by this pro
cess is divided into three sorts, designated
as head belly and foot camlhor. To show
the estimation in which the Chinese regart
true Baros gum, they pay for it from $7.5'
to $50 per pound, according to its quality
while the drug grown in their own country
and in the Empire Of Japan, is sometimes