10 ODOROGRAPHIA. 
and the hydrocarbons of the composition C,;H., or their homo- 
logues. These products are next converted into their tri-nitro 
derivatives and purified as specified in the first Patent. 
At the Meeting of the Society of Chemical Industry held on the 
4th April, 1892, a paper was read entitled “ Studies on Musk 
Baur ” by Dr. Baur, the inventor of that product. A study of the 
cresols in their relation to butyl enabled the author to find that a 
body with an intense musk-like odour is obtained by boiling pure 
meta-cresol ether with iso-butyl bromide and aluminium chloride, 
subsequently nitrating the product. If meta-cresol be treated 
with butyl alcohol, then with zinc chloride, and the mixture 
boiled in contact, with a reflux condenser attached, an unsymme- 
trical butyl-cresol is obtained which, when etherified and nitrated, 
yields a substance with an odour very lke civet. 
It does not appear that artificial musk blends well or “ fixes” 
perfumes well, as does the natural article. It is not stable, and 
under certain conditions its odour is destroyed. Also, it is but 
little understood, and there exists an idea that such nitrated com- 
pounds are explosive. 
CIVET, 
Next in importance as an example of the musk type is Civet. 
This is secreted by the Viverra Civetta and the Viverra Zibethain 
a pouch divided into two bags and situated beneath the tail. It 
is so powerful that it infects every part of the creature. This 
secretion is increased when the animal is irritated, a fact which is 
sometimes cruelly taken advantage of by enclosing the animal in a 
cage in which it cannot turn round, and then tormenting it. The 
cage being opened by a door from behind, a spoon is introduced 
through the orifice of the pouch and the contents carefully scraped 
out; the operation being repeated two or three times a week. The 
yield is said to be increased by feeding up the animal on foods 
which it is fond of. The secretion is a thick, unctuous, pale 
yellow matter about the consistence of honey, repulsive both 
in appearance and odour; the object of its formation is not 
obvious: it may be intended for purposes of defence, as is the 
case with the skunk and the polecat, The secretions are in re- 
lation to the habits of life and conditions of existence of various 
creatures, such as the poison of the viper for attack, and the fetid 
exhalations of some insects for defence. A poison-bag would be 
