From the results obtained in the chemical examination it appears that
the oil of swamp bay contains over 21 per cent of camphor, 19.8 per
cent cineol, and borneol, the latter possibly occurring to a small
extent as esters and as the free alcohol. No terpenes were identified.
Since only a very small portion of the oil distills over below 175°
C., it would seem that the oil is not terpenic in character, as most
members of the terpene group of hydrocarbons boil below 175° C.
Besides the constituents mentioned, the oil contains butyric acid in
free condition to a slight extent; butyric, valerianic, and heptoic
acids combined in the oil as esters, valerianic acid predominating, and
a slight trace of an aldehyde, possibly formaldehyde.
This oil possessing, as has been proved, considerable quantities of
such constituents as camphor, cineol, and borneol, all of which are
valuable therapeutic agents, may be of economic importance from the
standpoint of the perfumer or the medical practitioner. Doubtless if
the distillation of the plant were carried on, attention being paid
to the stage of growth at which it is distilled and the distillation
restricted to the leaves and small twigs, the yield of oil and possibly
the yield of the three important constituents mentioned could be
considerably augmented.