The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-25
HOW CAMPHOR IS REFINED.
In Japan 1t Is Either subIimed or Pressed
Into Cakes.

In Japan 1t Is Either Sublimed or Pres ed
Into Cakes.
A very important change has recently
taken place in the methods of preparing
camphor for market, says the Scientific
American. The principal source Of supply
is in Southern Japan. and for many yeass
it has been exported from there in the crude
state only. Recently, and since the great
advance in the price Of the drug, caused by
its consumption in the making of celluloid,
plants for the refining of camphOr have
been set up liz Japan. In April last COM
plete machinery, including stills, engines
and boilers, were manufactured at Pitts
burg, Pa, for Messrs. Gribble & Nash Of
New York. and sent to Hiogo Japan. The
complete machinery weighed fifty five tons
and cost S75. 900.
DR.. A. &. Boyer, who had previously
given much time and thought to devsing
improved methods Of procuring the crude
gum and refining it, went to Japan as the
chemist in charge Of the enterprise. Pre-
VlOus to setting up this plant near HiOgO
all camphOr left Japan in raw state, and
was refined either in Europe or in this
country This caused a great deal OF waste
from evaporation, and has prompted cap
itaIiSts to do the refining where the drug is
produced, and thus avoid the waste and
loss which has heretofore attended It's
transportation.
About the same time that this plant was
sent 10 Japan another one, purchased by
native capital, was started. This shows now
quickly the natives Of Japan adopt improved
methods of trade and manufacture, rather
than be Outdone by their foreign competitors.
The American refinery is composed of ma
chineTy made under the patents of w. +.
Shines Of Phljade phia, and will be able to
produce from $4,000 TO 10000 pounds Of re-
fined camphor month. The products are
of two kinds. One is sublimed, and called
Hover OF camphOT, which slightly resembles
desiCcated CocOanut, except that it is of a
gummy nature. The ether kind is pressed
into cakes OF varying shapes and sizes, but
generally about the size Of cake of toilet
soap. The flower Of camphor is prepared
especially for use In the manufacture Of
cellulOid.
Since the American refinery has got into
successful operation a japanese company
has been formed with a capital of S100..
600 to prosecute the business. Just what
effect the new method Of refining
camphor. will have upon the price Of
the article seems TO be matter
Of considerable uncertainty, the market
value having huctuated greatly at times,
owing In part to the manipulation of specu-
latOTs, and also to reports Of It's use in max
ing sm0keless powder and Tor other pun
poses 1t IS now SAID that camDhor has
proved unsatisfactory in smokeless powder,
because it eyapOraies after the powder is
placed in the cartridge.
The methods Of procuring the crude cam
phOT in japan are of a very primitive char
acter. though sufficient quantities are al
ways forthcoming to meet the demands OF
trade. Camph0r trees are being dumesti-
Gated in this country, a large number Of
specimens having been distributed by the
United States Department of Agriculture.
4 gentleman who has spent a number OF
years in Japan, and is familiar with the
procuring of CamDhOr gum from the trees
there, said recently that he saw no reason
why camphOr should not. in time, be pro-
duced here in paying quantities.