The evening world., 1893-11-27
THE Milking OF CEMPHOR.
Crude Methods Still Used by the
Japanese.
Curious Steaming Process Which
Requires Great Skill.

During the last few years the cam
phor industry in Japan has undergone
considerable change. partly owing to
improved methods OF manufacture. and
partly, owing to the keenness OF COM
petition with Formosa. In times gone
by camphor was produced in Sumatra
and Bornso and in other parts of the
East Indies, as well as in China: now
however. the crude camphor of COM
merce Is a product OF Japan and For
mosa exclusively. says an exchange.
The Formosa drug Is inferior to the
greater purity. p!nkish color and bold
grain commanding in foreign countries
higher prices, by some > or 3 per cent,
In spite OF its comparative abundance.
averages about 5000 COO pounds. of which
about one-quarter reaches the United
States or America, either direct or via
Europe, the remainder being shipped 10
India
The method of extraction of the cam
pnor from the tree is still in many
parts of the most primitive descrip-
tion. and Is conducted by the inhabl-
tants. who are natives. ami have con
tlnued to use the apparatus which has
been handed down TO them ror gener-
atoms. In producing camphor it is
very important 10 choose d place that
has proper slope o. gr, und and lying
along stream; The furnace used for
on a piece of ground which can be con-
Eeniently levell-d. and the surface round
II Is covered with stones and a mixture
or gCIel and clay The furnace itself
out, and an iron pot Is luted in and dried
before operations are commenced on a
;eHel with the mouth Of the pot small
board, called kobuta. or little i'd, and
SHAPED Ike fan. is arranged. The door
ct the furnace Is about two feet in
height and eight inches at its base. The
SIZE OF the furnace, and pot is of some
Importance. as variation In the dimen-
siohs considerably affects the yield OF
canphor over the iron pot a bottom
less TUT IL irade OF ,sugi wood: Il is about
Inverted cone on the top or the pot. The
slaves ~ which II is constructed must
ne Joined very closely. 50 as 10 prevent
ne tseapc OF steam. It acts as sort
are intr"dtced ~ its upper Orifice and ar.
discharged from a smaller orifce in its
lower par A round piece OF board, IN
which several holes are ed. and callei
th- gesulta. acts as false bottom arI
prevents the chips from falling into the
iror pot A bamboo tube OF about six
inches n diameter is fitted TO the k0saikl
!. regulate the amount Of water in the
a water box. called a fune. condenses
the Vapor laden with camphor. II con-
=
SIX feet long, three feet bread and eight
inches deep, while the upper one is with
ont a bottom. but is divided In its mid
de by q board. This trough is also fitted
with partitions flled with cold water,
ana each partition has an opening all
itrnately, so that the Napor passes in a
ziGZag manner through the trough. Small
serve to hold the crystals OF camph0r
gs they are deposited from the cooling
yTapor; The eamph9r OIL also drains
from the crystals. and all that Is neCes-
SaT| - then to remove the camphor h.
sweeping or scrap!ng.
The chips arr Ghiehy obtained from
roots root, oi the n sampGor tree. or from the
liGuely across the grain. and should be
thln and small, In order that the ex-
tTtnStlon Z nda ma be completed quickly,
hces where the chips ana the water
are introduced, as well as the mouth OF
the water regulator, are stopped with a
vent the escape OF the camphor. The
ire Is then lighted, and after a shor,
time mixture Of camphor vapor ana
steam enters the troughs, and as soon
fire H. checked, 4 low fire is kept burn
ny al night, and on the following morn.
lns more water is a,dded TO the boiler.
are raked out from tho proper cutie,
Win kind Of shovel, and a fresh batch
y chlns added, These operations are
continued daily for about a fortnight
at the end OF this time the upper trough
j. taken out and the uamphor swept GT
This operation is callel hitohac. and is
Informed ,, with a kind Of broom, and
a wooden tub. the yield from ono frirc
amounts 10 abou, forty pounds. : The
oil Is allowed TO drain ou, OF the tuS
and the erystailizel camphor is theE
pounded into a barrel fitt6d With a
double I'D. and holding about ls0 poWnds
J. Inc best eamfhoF IS obtairs1 trem the