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Camphir was unknown to the Ancient Grecians: It began first to be taken notice of by the Arabians. Whether it is hot or cold, is not agreed on by Authors. The An∣cients counted it cold, be∣cause it extinguish'd Vene∣ry, and cured Inflamma∣tions of the Eyes; and for that being put upon Burns, it seem'd as cold as Snow. But Modern Physicians af∣firm, 'tis hot, on the con∣trary:
Their Arguments for it are, the great In∣flammability of it; its pe∣netrating, Aromatick Smell, and Acrid Taste; its rea∣diness to evaporate, by rea∣son of the Tenuity of Parts. Which Opinion, indeed, seems most probable; for the contrary Arguments are easily answer'd. For, if it should be granted that it suppresses Venery, it doth not therefore necessarily follow that it is cold; for so doth Rue, and the chaste Tree, and the like. Yet Breynius saith, it doth not extinguish Venery: For, says he, it hath been ob∣serv'd, that many who have been employ'd in purifying Camphir daily, have had many Children. And then, tho' it be of use in many Diseases that require Cool∣ing, as, in Inflammations of the Eys, and Erysipelas, Fevers, and the like; yet they say, Cooling in these Cases, by this Medicine, is not per se, but per acci∣dens; much in the same manner as the Inflamma∣tion of a Member burnt is drawn out by the Heat of the Fire, or the Flame of a Candle, or, as by the immoderate use of Pepper, the native Heat is driven out, and is less within; and so the Body becomes cold. Some mention other Ways whereby these things may be perform'd; which I omit, partly because they are not satisfactory, and partly because it is not clear, whether Camphir doth good in these Diseases, or whether it be injurious. Camphir resists Putrefa∣ction and Poisons; upon which Account it is fre∣quently used in the Plague, Malignant Diseases, and Putrid Fevers. Balm-wa∣ter, wherein Camphir hath been extinguish'd, doth good in Mother-fits. 'Tis most frequently used out∣wardly, in cooling Epi∣thems, Frontals, and Pare∣goricks: And for the mix∣ing of it with them, 'tis wont to be dissolv'd with the Spirit of Wine, or rub∣bed with Oyly Kernels or Seeds. Camphir dissolves in Spirit of Wine present∣ly, and swims upon the top of the Spirit, in form of an Oyl. Camphir is mix'd with Wash-balls, to
smoothen and beautifie the Skin. A small quantity of it used outwardly or in∣wardly, disposes to Sleep: But if it be held to the Nose frequently, it dries the Brain, and causes Watching. Camphir is reckon'd by the most learn∣ed Men, and not undeserv∣edly, among the strongest Alexipharmicks. It won∣derfully resists Putrefaction, and repels and corrects the putrid Vapours of a cor∣rupt Member: But it is to be used cautiously in vio∣lent Pains of the Head and Stomach. Camphir is dis∣solv'd in Spirit of Wine; and this Dissolution is cal∣led Spirit of Wine Cam∣phoriz'd. 'Tis good for the Apoplexy, and Hyste∣rical Diseases. 'Tis also found to be of excellent use for the Tooth-ach, a little Cotton being dip'd in it, and put into the ach∣ing Tooth. The Oyl of Camphir is made in the following manner: Pow∣der grosly three or four Ounces of good Camphir, put it into a Matrass, and pour upon it twice as much Spirit of Nitre; stop your Vessel close, and set it over a Pot half full of Water, a little heated; stir it ever now and then, to help forward the Disso∣lution, which will be fi∣nish'd in two or three Hours, and then you will find the Camphir turn'd in∣to a clear Oyl, which swims above the Spirit; separate it, and keep it in a Viol well stop'd. 'Tis used for the Caries of Bones, and to touch Nerves that are uncover'd in Wounds. This Oyl is nothing but a Disso∣lution of Camphir in Spi∣rit of Nitre; for if you pour Water upon it, to de∣stroy the force of the Spi∣rit, it returns into Cam∣phir, as before. Of all the Resins, this is the only one that can dissolve in Spirit of Wine. Take of Vola∣tile Salt of Hart's-horn two Grains, of the Majesterial Cardiac-powder six Grains, of Camphir and Cochinel, each four Grains; of Ve∣nice-Treacle one Scruple, of the Aqua Coelestis a suffi∣cient quantity: Make a Bolus. This is good in Malignant Fevers. Take of Camphir and Borax,
each one Dram; of White Sugar-candy five Drams, of White Vitriol one Scru∣ple; powder them very fine, and mingle them by degrees with half a Pint of Sweet-Fennel-water. This is an excellent Water for Rheums and Inflamma∣tions of the Eyes, a Rag being dip'd in it, and ap∣plied often on the Eye-lids. 'Tis gather'd from more Trees than one. It distils, Drop by Drop, from a great Tree, much like a Walnut-tree, in the Island Borneo, in Asia. Little Cakes of it are likewise brought out of China, but that is not so good. It must be chosen white, transparent, clean, friable, without Spot, and such as is hard to quench when once lighted. Camphir is compounded of a Sulphur and a Salt; so very Vola∣tile, that it is very hard to keep any time; and it always loseth something, let it be never so closely stop'd.