CASTOREUM 451 



632. HYDRACEUM. A plaster mass of a blackish-brown color, occasionally used 

 medicinally as a stimulant and antispasmodic. When warmed, it emits the 

 odor of castor. It is an animal excretion found in Africa. 



633. CASTOREUM. CASTOR. 



SOURCE. The preputial follicles of both sexes of Cas'tor fiber Linne. 

 These follicles are not perceptible until the outer skin is removed, when 

 they are seen to lie between the cloaca and pubic arch of the animal. This 

 species of animals is commonly known as the beaver, and is found more or less 

 throughout the Temperate and North Temperate Zones. 



DESCRIPTION. The dry, resinous, brownish contents of the fig-shaped 

 sacs or follicles have a strong and peculiar odor, an acrid, nauseous taste, 

 and are soluble in alcohol and ether. An aqueous decoction of castor is 

 of a light yellowish-brown color which becomes turbid on cooling, and changes 

 to a dark color when ferric chloride is added. 



VARIETIES. American or Canadian, and Russian or Siberian Castor. 

 The Russian variety differs from the American in the size of the inclosing 

 follicles; in the former the size varies from 2j^ oz. to 8 oz. (75 to 240 Gm.) in 

 weight, and in the latter from I to 4 oz. (30 to 120 Gm.). There is also a 

 difference in the composition of the product from the different varieties, the 

 American probably containing a larger percentage of resin. 



ADULTERATIONS. Earthy matters, as well as resin and blood, are some- 

 times used for this purpose, but not frequently. The product from diseased 

 animals is also met with; this often contains as much as 50 per cent, of inert ' 

 material and is of a brownish-gray color. 



CONSTITUENTS. A bitter resinous substance 14 to 58 per cent., i to 2 per 

 cent, of volatile oil containing carbolic acid, a small quantity of castorin (a 

 colorless, odorless and tasteless, crystalline, non-saponifiable fat, soluble 

 in ether and boiling alcohol), together with salicin, cholesterin, and about 

 3.5 per cent. ash. The resin is dark brown, slightly acid, soluble in alcohol but 

 not in ether. The volatile oil contains the odoriferous principle and is 

 generally colorless, having an acrid, bitter taste. 



ACTION AND USES. Castor enjoys some reputation as a stimulant, anti- 

 spasmodic, and emmenagogue, and is employed in cases of hysteria, chorea, 

 and epilepsy, associated with sexual disorders. On account of its disagree- 

 able taste it is best administered in the form of a pill. 



DOSE. 5 to 10 gr. (0.3 to 0.6 Gm.) in the form of a pill; I to 4 fl. dr. (4 

 to 15 mils) of the tincture. 



634. CIVETTA. CIVET. 



SOURCE. The glandular pouch between the genitals, and anus of the male 

 and female animals belonging to the two species Viver'ra zibe'tha Schreber, 

 and V. civetta Schreber, the first of which is found in Southern Asia and the 

 other in Africa. 



DESCRIPTION. The secretion, when fresh, is yellowish, becoming brown 

 with age, soluble in hot absolute alcohol, partly soluble in ether, and insoluble 

 in water; odor musk-like; taste acrid and nauseous. 



ADULTERATIONS. Butter or lard is not infrequently used as an adulterant 

 of the commercial article. 



CONSTITUENTS. Resinous and coloring matters are the chief components,, 

 together with volatile oil and fat. 



ACTION AND USES. -The manufacture of perfumery is the principal use 

 of civet, but it is also sometimes administered as a stimulant and antispas- 

 modic in doses of 5 to 15 gr. (0.3 to I Gm.). As a perfume it is superior 

 to musk, as the odors of various kinds of flowers can be successfully imitated 

 with it. 



