MUSK 



54J 



Constituents. Musk yields by distillation with steam and sub- 

 sequent purification a small percentage of a viscid colourless oil 

 with a very powerful and agreeable odour of musk ; this oil appears 

 to be a ketone and has been termed muskone. The drug contains 

 moisture, fatty matter, resin, proteids, and inorganic substances. 

 Water dissolves from 50 to 75 per cent, of it, but alcohol only 10 to 

 12 per cent. It should not contain more than 15 per cent, of moisture, 

 or yield on incineration more than 8 per cent, of ash. 



Adulterants. Musk is liable to gross adulterations, which is in 

 some cases easy to detect, but in others exceedingly difficult. The 



FIG. 248. Musk pod and generative organs of the male Musk Deer, s, skin ; p, 

 penis ; t, scrotum ; g, gland of the penis ; pr, preputial orifice ; o, orifice of 

 the musk sac ; ra, muscular coat of musk sac. (Moeller, after Brandt.) 



sophistication of the drug is effected by the Chinese, and is practised 

 to such an extent as to lead to the assertion that pure musk is scarcely 

 procurable. The pods are skilfully opened, part of the musk is 

 removed and replaced by some worthless substitute. Inorganic 

 substances, such as small stones, leaden shot, &c., are comparatively 

 easily detected, and so are such adulterations as scraps of leather 

 or horn. Dried blood yields a red ash, whereas the ash of genuine 

 musk is whitish. Resin and other substances soluble in spirit in- 

 crease the alcoholic extract. Earthy matter raises the ash. 



Uses. Musk is occasionally used in medicine as a diffusible stimu- 

 lant, but the bulk of the drug is employed in the manufacture of 

 perfumes. 



