MOSCHUS. 373 



GROUP II. 



THE AKIMAL KINGDOM. 



RODENTIA. 



Castoreum CASTOR. The dried preputial 

 follicles and their secretion, obtained from the Beaver, 

 Castor Fiber, and separated from the somewhat 

 shorter and smaller oil-sacs which are frequently 

 attached to them. From the Hudson's Bay Territory. 



Characters. Follicles in pairs, about three inches long, 

 fig-shaped, firm, and heavy, brown or greyish -black ; contain- 

 ing a dry resinous reddish-brown or brown highly odoroua 

 secretion, in great part soluble in rectified spirit, and in ether. 



Impurities. Spurious sacs, filled with dried blood, etc. 



Composition. Castor contains, in addition to the ordinary I 

 constituents of animal secretions, such as salts, a volatile oil, \ 

 uric, carbolic and benzole acids, salicin, a,nd.Jixed oils. 



Dose. 5 to 10 gr. 



Preparation. 



Tinctura Castorei. 1 in 20. Dose, J to 1 fl.dr. 



ACTION AND USES. 



The action of castor is stimulant like that of musk. The 

 drug is very seldom used. 



RUMINANTIA. 



ITIoschu* MUSK. The inspissated and dried 

 secretion from the preputial follicles of Moschus 

 inoschiferus ; native of the mountainous regions of 

 Central Asia. Imported from China and India. 



Characters. In irregular, reddish-black, rather unctuous 

 grains ; having a strong, peculiar, very diffusible odour, and a 

 bitter aromatic taste ; contained in a round or slightly oval 

 membranous sac, about two inches in diameter, covered on the 

 outer side with stiff greyish hairs arranged in a concentric 

 manner around its central orifice. 



Composition. Musk contains an aromatic principle, the 



