MUSK 539 



The musk deer is a small, graceful animal about the size of the 

 roebuck, and inhabits a large area in Central Asia, extending from 

 the Caspian Sea to the eastern boundaries of the Chinese Empire. 

 The male animal, which alone produces the musk, bears on its belly, 

 a short distance behind the navel and just in front of the preputial 

 orifice, a small sac produced by an infolding of the skin. This sac 

 is the musk sac or musk pod, and it contains a treacly or soft, 

 unctuous, brownish substance, musk, which is remarkable for its 



FIG. 247. Musk caddy. 



intense, penetrating, and persistent odour. The musk is formed in 

 alveoli produced on the inner lining of the sac and is discharged into 

 the cavity. The outer surface of the pod is covered with hairs and 

 is provided with a small canal, serving for the discharge of the secre- 

 tion, debouching close to the preputial orifice. Very young animals 

 do not secrete musk and old animals but little. 



The animals are snared or shot, and the musk pods cut out trimmed 

 and dried ; they are then wrapped 'singly in paper and packed in a 

 small rectangular box covered with silk. This box is known as a 

 ' caddy ' and contains a ' catty ' (2 If ounces) of musk pods (about 

 22). Of late musk pods have been packed in flat tins each containing 

 two catties. 



