Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-01-26
ABOUT CAMPHOR.
How the Aromatic Drug Is stss...str vSs
In FOrmOsa.

How the Aromatic Drug Is stsss..etr ,>~s
In FOrmOsa.
From the London Times.
One OF the chief stanSss of Foymosa ia
camphor, but the industry is carried on
under somewhat unusual conditions, Mr..
Hosle, in his late report on Formosa.
says that the camphor laurel grows in
the savage territory only, and the hill
men, or Hakkas, who border on that tar.
rltory, have to make arrangements with
the savage chiefs to protect or refrain
from destroying the slaves or stills which
the former set up in their territory.
As soon as the hillmen have settled all
prellminaries with the savage chiefs. and
suitable spot has been fixed among the
camphor trees for the erection of a stiy
the former proceed to run I'D shed OF.
rough building, the size OF which depends
on the number of stoves 1t is intended to,
contain. II ten are intended to be erected
the building would be about twenty feet
long by twelve feet or thirteen feet wide.
In the center of the floor an oblone
structure, some four feet high, ten feet
long and six feet broad, Is built of sun
dried mud bricks, having five fireplaces.
or holee, at each side. raised foot or 60
above the floor Of the room.
The two ends OF the structure are solit,
and without fireplaces. The latter are
so built that an earthenware not can
easily be inserted above the fire in each
hole. An earthenware cylinder connects
the mouth OF each pot with the surface
OF the structure or still between the pot
and the lower end of the cylinder there ia
round thin piece of wood fitting
both the mouth of the pot and the
lower end OF the cylinder, and perforated
80 as to allow the steam from the water
ID the pot to pass into the cylinder slsr.
ing distillation. The top of each cynn der
is usually about q foot in diameter and il.
level with the surface of the still.
such still would present to the eve,
q mud structure with ten round holes in
the top and five fireplaces at each of the.
two longest ends. To complete II. how.
ever, ten large earthenware Jars are re-
CURED. These during the process of
are placed, inverted, on the
top OF the still, Immediately over the
upper ends of the cylinders, 80 as to form
To prevent the escape Of
steam from the condensers, bands of
ute are fitted firmly between their
mouths and the top Of the still. The
pots are filled with water and the cylin.
Ter with camphor wood chips; the lars
ire In a position on the top of the still.
md the frewood is lighted under the
pots.
When the water boils the steam passes
Up through the perforated wood into thH,
CYLINDERS, heats and moistens the chi,s.
md ascends to the condensers, Carving
With It the camphor fumes which the,
hips have given forth. The steam. then,
on the inside of the lars, and
when the latter are removed a.
aver, OF white camphor crystals is,
ound adhering to them. This 10 brushed,
ID by hand and placed in baskets, The
hips are then withdrawn from the CYL
nders, fresh chips take their place, water
added to the pots, the condensers again
aded in position additional firewood is
brown into the fireplaces and the work
distillation recommences.