Aqua Camphorae (U. S. P.)—Camphor Water.
Related entry: Camphora (U. S. P.)—Camphor
Preparation.—"Camphor, eight grammes (8 Gm.) [123 gr.]; alcohol, five cubic centimeters (5 Cc.) [81♏︎︎]; precipitated calcium phosphate, five grammes (5 Gm.) [77 gr.]; distilled water, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎︎]. Triturate the camphor with the alcohol and precipitated calcium phosphate, then with the water gradually added, and filter"—(U. S. P.).
The first trituration with alcohol, by destroying the tenacity with which the particles of camphor adhere together, renders it more readily pulverizable; the second trituration with the calcium salt subdivides it still more finely, so that the water can more readily act upon it, and produce the desired medicated water. The filtration removes the calcium phosphate and excess of camphor from the solution. Ice-cold water will dissolve more camphor than water at the ordinary temperature.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—Camphor water is a very feeble preparation of camphor, and is principally used as a vehicle for the administration of some other remedies. It has, however, been useful in the typhoid stage of febrile diseases to produce sleep and quietness, also to relieve severe after-pains, colic, mild neuralgic pains, dysmenorrhoea in nervous individuals, singultus, nervous debility, and in all cases where small doses of camphor are indicated. Its dose varies from ½ fluid ounce to 2 fluid ounces, every 1, 2, or 3 hours, as circumstances require. Externally, it has been found useful in chronic ophthalmia, in combination with rose water, infusion of golden seal, etc.
