23 
Book II. 
Division II. 
Properties. 
SALTS. 
It is completely soluble in alcohol. 
When exposed to the air it attracts moisture, but not 
in sufficient quantity to enable it to assume a liquid 
form. When exposed to heat it swells, melts, and is 
converted into vapour. Before the blow-pipe it burns 
with a blue and red flame, and is entirely volatilized. 
Most of the calcareous salts form triple salts with 
camphorat of ammonia. 
It decomposes in part all the aluminous salts, except 
the sulphat of alumina *. 
Sp. 6. Campborat of Magneria. 
THIs salt may be prepared by mixing water with 
carbonat of magnesia, and adding crystallized campho 
ric acid : heat is then applied, the solution is filtrated, 
and evaporated to dryness. The salt obtained is dissol 
ved in hot water, passed through a filter, and evapora 
ted by means of a moderate beat till a pellicle forms on 
the surface of the solution. On cooling the salt is de 
posited in thin plates. The second solution is intend 
ed to remove any excess of magnesia that may happen 
to be present. 
This salt does not crystallize. It is white, opaque, 
and has a bitter taste. It is scarcely more soluble in 
water than camphorat of lime. Alcohol has no action 
on it while cold, but when hot it dissolves the acid and 
leaves the magnesia ; and the acid precipitates again as 
the alcohol cools. 
When exposed to the air, it dries and becomes cover 
ed with a little powder; but this effect is produced 
slowly, and only in a warm place. When this salt is 
* Ann. de Chim. xxviI. 31.