MOSCHUS MOSCHIFERUS. 



This kind of musk is imported in wooden boxes, and some- 

 times not in a good state of preservation. 



The high price of musk is a strong inducement for its adul- 

 teration, and this is not confined to the grain musk. When 

 adulterated, the bag, which should not have any appearance 

 of having been opened, appears, if narrowly examined, slit or 

 punctured in several places, through which sand, lead, and 

 other heavy matters, are inserted. The musk is sometimes 

 nearly all abstracted, and a mixture of dried blood and as- 

 phaltum introduced into the bag; or both the bag and the 

 musk are artificial, and only scented with real musk. The 

 blood of the animal itself is often injected into the bag of 

 musk, while both are warm, and they then unite. The first of 

 these adulterations is easily detected. The presence of blood 

 may be suspected, if the musk, when held over the flame of a 

 candle on a thin spatula, emits as it inflames a fetid smoke ; 

 and asphaltum is discovered by its melting and running before 

 it inflames, if heated on a spatula : whereas real musk in- 

 flames without running, and is converted into charcoal. The 

 artificial bags are known by the inner membrane, which lines 

 the real musk-bags, being deficient. Grain musk is sometimes 

 imitated by dried blood, and perhaps by other substances. 

 The fraud is to be detected by a careful examination of the 

 appearance and odor of the particles, and by their chemical 

 characters. An infusion of genuine musk gives no precipi- 

 tate with a solution of bichloride of mercury, but does with 

 tincture of nutgalls and acetate of lead. By incineration, 

 genuine musk leaves behind a grayish-white ash, whereas 

 blood yields a reddish one. Artificial musk is said to be pre- 

 pared by rubbing in a mortar dried bullock's blood with caus- 

 tic ammonia, and mixing the half-dried mass with genuine 

 musk. 



CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND USES. 



THE odor of Musk is aromatic, but peculiar, extremely 

 powerful, and durable. In many individuals the odor of 

 musk causes headache, and in some instances, when it is 

 strong, convulsions. The taste is bitterish and heavy, and 

 the color a deep brown, with a shade of red. Exposed to 

 heat it burns with a white flame, and leaves a light, spongy 

 charcoal. Trituration with potassa develops ammonia. Boil- 



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