The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-29
The USES OF CAMPHOR.
1t Is Employed to Cure Many Ills
Of the Human
Flesh.
Considered a Cure-all by Mothers
and Grandmothers for
Generations.
Where tho CaMphor Of erce Il OBJ
tained-Used by Many Orientals for
Illuminating Purposes.

One of tho most common and popular
medicinal agents for household use 10 CAM
phor, a drug which has been regarded as a
cure-all by mothers and grandmothera
through many generations, says q writer in
the New York Sunday News. It was much
used BY old physicians, and il yet greatly
valued in China and Japan.
The eamphor OF is obtained
from the roots and wood Of a tree album
dant In China, Japan. Borneo and Ceylon.
1t IL = volatile, waxy solid, remarkably in
aammsble, and strongly aromatic. These
qualities ave rendered it useful. Ss a medi-
cine, and in sick rooms to prevent conta-
Rion. 1t is also placed in cabinets of nat
ural history to destroy the small insects
that constantly prey upon the specimens.
Camphor Is a sure protection against moths.
The Chinese obtain camphor by distilla-
tion, as follows: After a tree is fellsd to
the earth. it il cut into chips, which are
thrown into = pot partly filled with water,
and placed over a slow FIRE. Through holes
in the bottom of the tub steam slowly rises,
and heating the chips, generates oil and
camphor. The tub containing the chips
has = closely-ftting cover. From this cover
q bamboo pipe leads to a succession Of
other tubs with bamboo connections, and
the last Of these tubs il divided into two
compartments, one above the other. the
divided floor being perforated with small
holes, to allow the water and oil to pass to
the lower compartment. The upper COM
partment il supplied with a straw layer,
which catches and holds the camphor in
crystal in deposit as it passes to the cooling
process. The camphor is then separated
from the straw, placed in wooden tubs and
ia ready for market.
The oil is extensively used by the natives
for Illuminating and other purposes. Tho
canphor tree is not an abundant bearer.
Twenty pounds arc n rare yield for a large
tree, while ten pounds 10 considered a good
harvest for one of medium size.
The wood of the caInphor tree is never
attacked by the vorkcious myriads of east
ern insects, which destroy nearly all other
varieties; it is SO little d structibls that the
Chinese often use it for collins in which to
bury their dead. Dutch or Japan camphor
is prepared in Batavia. it is pinker in hue
and much coarser than the Chinese. Tho
camphor industry in Florida il beginning
to attract some attention since the disoov-
cry that the canphor tree grows in Florida,
IN almost any soil, is also very rapid of
growth and when between five and six years
old has q height Of ten feet and a Trunk
diameter of four inchcs.
Thirteen pounds of the branches are
wv ASAA ~ o4o W wv toCu
fuls OF crude camphor. those interested in
the question claim that if cultivated on a
sufficiently extensive scale, the camphor
tree would yisld II much Larger profit to
Florida, than any other product of the soil.
The treatment of the tree is as follows:
AT ths age of four or five years the first cut
ting is made for distillation by pruning
from the ground to the height Mt which the
head OF the tree is to be retained. From
that time on the head is she ,red in a suita-
hIG manner. N1En this frap{ronDf lsuA.1.
tlon Is carried on every year. snd in ten or
fifteen years the trunk of the tree will be of
sufficient size to be sawed into lumber SO
that the valuable camphor wood may also
be utilized.
AS an internal medicine camphor has a
reputation for very uncertain action; il is,
howeye. much employed, and with 1000
resu is. In medical doses it stimulates the
heart, thus increasing the circulation, pro-
noting perapiration and allaying pain. 1t
also stimulates respiration and mental &C.
tlvity, even producing MODIFICATION. Poi
sonous doses cypress the heart, producing
oldness o. ths skin, insenaibility, coma,
commissions, and perhaps death. Camphor
is slightly soluble in water, but frcsly so in
alcohol. ether, chloroform, tho essential
oils and milk.
Camnnor is a powe full agent, and IN ex-
cesslvs doses liz capable of doing much mis-
chief. Some yeas ago the ''camphor bot
tle," holding n solution Of the agent in rum
VI NAutCd eIGCnCi, WhB CONHluoIeu0 house, !
hold anacea, and il among the younger or
Older members of the family an ankle was
turned. or a limb bruised, o. there was
headache, toothache, or earache, down came
the camphor bottle and the suffering mem
Der was well Gosed. 1t is a matter Of won
ger thRt 80 few instances of injury resulted,
cons!dr ring its widespread empirical en-
%ployment.
At the present time its use az a household
appllcation Is & eatly restricted. BY physl-
clans 1t IS recognized Es Gne of the most
valuable drugs of the pharmrcouoeia: no
remedy equals camphor in cholera and
oiarfheea,, alihying intestinal pain and
o!amp and restoring warmth to the extrem-
Summer dinrrhoa, from nervous exhaus-
promptly by a few doses. The spirits of
canphor ia milk is An effective remedy in
cases OF infsntila disirhna, In depression
OF the heart it scts promptly as II cardinc
stiinulant. Camphor and morphine in a
ha1seed r%,ouit1ce will quickly relieve the
great value. II frequently used, to promote
Sleep, quiet the nerves and %antagonize the
cardlac depression which follows typhoid
and fevers of the eruptivs form.
Canlphor ID also valuable in nervous
headache, restlessness, hypoohondriasis.
hystericsl commissions and numerous other
nervous disorders, in all of which it acts as
a seastlve and anJispasmodio. In delirium
tremens 1t IL given with soda bromide with
excellent results. Catarrhal colds are
readlly broken up by the use of ca1nphor in
line powder Rs snuff, if used in the incip-
lency. Where there is swelling of the
glands, sorness of the chest caused by colds.
pains of Rheumatic character and other To-
cal affections, no remedy is more directly
curative than the liberal use OF oampho-
rated oil or soap liniment, applied e1te:-
nally. Raw cotton we'll washed with spirits
of canpho-, and allowed to dry, then bound
on torres or wounds. is a better cure than
any p%oIltice.
Acne or face pimples of chronic form are
by the use OF All ointment COM
poaed of camphor, ten grains; simple sui
phur ointment, one ounce. Mix thoroughly
and apply at night; wash off next morning
with luke warm water. There ia no better
dressing for hed-sores than alum, one
ounce; camphor, four ounces. Mix with
the whites Of four egGs, and apply with a
feather.
10 relieve itching of the skin the follow
ing powder busted over the affected pats
VIII afford grateful relief: Oxide Of zinc,
Two drains; camphor, ons-half ounce; pull
Nerized alnyli. four drains.
A good mouth wash md gargls is: Tan
MN, two drachnis; alcohol, ons drachm;
winter, four ounces. Mix ono ta-
blcspoonful il wine glass of wntsr.
Inc following is an excellent remedy for
OF thc head: Carbolio acid, fyo
cnmphor, five grains: common salt.
Two orachns; watsr, one pint. Mix and
use rs Il nasal wash.