Dryobalanops Aromatica

A native of the Island of Sumatra. It

furnishes a liquid called camphor oil and a crystalline solid

known as Sumatra or Borneo camphor. Camphor oil is obtained from

incisions in the tree, and has a fragrant, aromatic odor. It has

been used for scenting soap. The solid camphor is found in cracks

of the wood, and is obtained by cutting down the tree, dividing it

into blocks and small pieces, from the interstices of which the

camphor is extracted. It differs from the ordinary camphor in

being more brittle and not condensing on the sides of the bottle

in which it is kept. It is much esteemed by the Chinese, who

attribute many virtues to it. It has been long known and is

mentioned by Marco Polo in the thirteenth century.