542 ANIMAL SUBSTANCES 



Varieties. 1. Yunan Musk. This variety is imported in the 

 pods, which are easily distinguished from Tonquin pods by their 

 more nearly spherical or even pyriform shape. The skin rises towards 

 the orifice, which is situated in a little depression ; near the margin 

 of the pod are two small nipples which, with the depressed orifice, 

 bear a fancied resemblance to a pig's eyes and snout, hence the common 

 term ' pig-faced pods,' by which these are known. They are imported 

 both in the natural pod and blue skin. The musk is nearly equal 

 in value to Tonquin. 



2. Assam and Nepaul Musk. The pods are small, nearly spherical 

 and about one-third of the weight of the Tonquin pods. The musk is 

 dry and of a bright reddish brown colour (Nepaul musk) or nearly 

 black (Assam musk). The two varieties are usually imported grained 

 and may be distinguished by their odour ; if pure they are of good 

 quality. 



3. Gabardine Musk is mostly exported from the northern Chinese 

 ports to Japan ; the hairs are greyish- white and the musk more moist 

 and less granular. A little musk of inferior quality is also brought 

 to Nishni-novgorod, whence it finds its w r ay to London. 



CASTOR 



(Castoreum) 



Source, &c. The drug that is known by this name consists of the 

 dried preputial follicles of the beaver, Castor fiber, Linne (Phylum 

 Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Rodentia). 



The beaver inhabits principally the Hudson's Bay Territory, but 

 is found also in western Russia, in Siberia, and elsewhere, living 

 chiefly, if not entirely, upon vegetable matter, such as roots, bark, 

 &c., of trees. 



The generative organs of the beaver are concealed in a hollow 

 or cloaca. Into the preputial (or vaginal) canal there open two large 

 glands, one on each side. These glands, cut from both male and 

 female animal and dried, form the commercial drug. In the fresh 

 state they contain a whitish or yellowish creamy substance, but as 

 they dry this becomes dark in colour. Our supplies are derived 

 almost entirely from the Hudson's Bay Territory. 



Description. The dried glands are of a dark-brownish or greyish 

 colour, pear-shaped, and about 8 to 10 cm. long. They are fre- 

 quently connected in pairs by a portion of the preputial or vaginal 

 canal which has been cut away with them. They are firm, heavy, 

 and solid, and possess a characteristic, empyreumatic, and not alto- 

 gether agreeable odour. They contain a brown or reddish brown 

 resinous secretion, in which, under the microscope, spherical grains 



