THE ORDER CETACEA. 155 



From the preceding observations, Dr. Swediaur concludes 

 that all ambergrease is generated within the bowels of the 

 Physeter Macrocephalus, or spermaceti whale ; and there 

 mixed with the beaks of the Sepia Octopedia. He therefore 

 defines ambergrease to be the preternaturally hardened faeces 

 of this species of whale. Mr. Magellan has mentioned the 

 existence of a vegetable ambergrease, gathered from a tree 

 which grows in Guyana, and is called cuma. Specimens of 

 this were presented to him by Mons. Aublet, author of the 

 " Histoire de la Guyane," published in 1774, who himself 

 collected it on the spot; and Mr. Magellan presented a 

 portion of it to the late Dr. Fothergill of Bath, and the late 

 Dr. Combe. It is of a whitish-brown colour, with a yellowish 

 shade ; melts and burns like wax on the fire, but is rather of 

 a more powdery consistence than any ambergrease he had 

 seen. 



The use of ambergrease in Europe is now nearly confined 

 to perfumery, though it has been recommended in medicine 

 by several eminent physicians. It is soluble in boiling spirits 

 of wine ; from which, if the saturated solution be set in a very 

 cold place, a part of the ambergrease concretes into a whitish 

 unctuous substance. Distilled, it yields an aqueous fluid, a 

 brown acidulous spirit, a deep-coloured oil, a thicker balsam, 

 and sometimes a concrete salt. The spirit, oil, balsam, and 

 salt, are similar to those obtained from amber, except that the 

 oil is more agreeable to the smell. Rectified spirit of wine 

 takes up near one-twelfth of its weight of ambergrease. 

 According to Neumann, if the spirit is impregnated with a 

 little essential oil, the ambergrease will dissolve more readily 

 in it. A deep-coloured tincture is made with alcohol, but not 

 a stronger. Acids and alkalies have no effect upon it ; water 

 and expressed oils have as little. It is one of the most 

 agreeable perfumes ; it heightens the natural odour of other 

 bodies ; but the great secret to this end is to add it sparingly, 

 that while it improves the smell of that to which it is added, 

 its own mav not be discovered. In the dose, from two grains 



