Camphor
a powerful diffusible stimulant and antispasmodic, extensively used in medicine and in the manufacture of celluloid and explosives. Borneo or Sumatra camphor is a kind of camphor made from Dryobalanops aromatica, or Dryobalanops camphora, a genus of the order Dipteraceæ, or Dipterads. It differs from ordinary camphor in having six-sided crystals.
In chemistry, the symbol of camphor is C10H16O. It is called also laurel camphor. Camphor is obtained by distilling with water the leaves and wood of the camphor-tree, Camphora officinarum, formerely called Laurus camphora. It is a solid white volatile crystalline mass, tough and difficult to powder, has a peculiar odor; thrown on water it revolves and is slightly soluble. It is very soluble in alcohol, ether, and strong acetic acid.
It has a dextro-rotary action on polarized light. Many essential oils deposit an inactive variety. Most of the camphor of commerce comes from Formosa. It is used to preserve natural history collections and cloths in drawers from the ravages of insects. 1