CASTOR FIBER. 



of materials for building, or the winter's stock of provision, 

 as well as by suckling their young, as to be generally at that 

 time in a very poor condition. Their fur during the summer 

 is of but little value, and it is only in winter that it is to be 

 obtained in that state which renders it so desirable to the fur- 

 traders. The different appearance of the fur, caused by age, 

 season, disease, or accident, has at times led some to suppose 

 the existence of several species of beaver in this country. 

 No other species, however, has yet been discovered than that 

 under consideration. 



CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND USES. 



CASTOR has a strong, peculiar, somewhat aromatic odor, 

 and a bitter, sub-acrid taste. The odorous principle is dissi- 

 pated in forming the decoction, which displays an alkaline 

 reaction. Both alcohol and ether take up all the active prin- 

 ciples of castor, and retain its odor and taste. According to 

 Bonn, castor contains an ethereal oil, cholesterine, resin, lime, 

 iron, and some salts. Bouillon, Lagrange, and Laugier 

 found a volatile oil, benzoic acid, resin, adipocere, a coloring 

 principle, mucus, carbonate of potassa, lime, ammonia, and 

 iron. M. Bizio obtained from it a peculiar crystalline mat- 

 ter, which he called Castorin^ having the odor of the castor 

 and a styptic taste. From the American castor scarcely any 

 is procured. 



The castor is contained in follicles found in both sexes. 

 They are placed near the pubis under the skin. There are 

 two castor follicles, each covered with a cellular coat in- 

 closing muscular fibres, intended to compress the follicle. 

 During life the castor is semifluid, but gradually becomes 

 solid and viscid, occasionally perfectly dry and pulverulent. 

 The quantity contained in the sacs is very variable. The 

 best castor is that which comes from Russia, but it has been 

 very rare of late years, and almost all now found in the mar- 

 ket is imported from Canada. The former is in roundish, 

 solid, pod-like sacs, smooth on the outside, and when cut 

 presenting an orange-colored surface ; the latter is in oblong, 

 thin sacs, corrugated on the outside, and deeper-colored than 

 Russian castor. The Russian, when treated with ammonia, 

 affords a whitish, the American an orange-colored product. 



When the beaver is taken, the follicles are cut off entire 

 and dried, either by exposure to the sun or in smoke. They. 



