THE  ADULTERATIONS  OF  MUSK. 
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recognized  (1546)  Ilelleborus  niger  and  Veratrum  nigrum  as 
different  plants,  and  Tournefort  declares  the  former  to  be  the 
plant  of  the  ancients.  It  is  the  Ilelleborus  officinalis,  Sibth., 
s.  orientalis,  Lam.  ;  probably  also  H.  antiquorum,  A.  Braun., 
{H.  olympus  of  others,)  but  not  H.  niger,  Linn.,  which  seems 
to  be  a  rather  hypothetical  plant. 
A  different  species  is  Helleho^^us  ponticus,  A.  Braun.,  s.  ori- 
entalis,  Desf.,  growing  in  the  neighborhood- of  Trapezunt.  The 
plant  resembles  Helleh.  viridis  in  appearance,  but  is  of  very 
little  efficacy.  Neither  half  a  drachm  of  the  fresh  root,  cut 
into  small  pieces,  nor  one  drachm  of  the  same  dried  and  pow- 
dered, has  any  material  effect  on  rabbits.  One  drachm  of  an 
ethereal  extract  produces  emaciation  with  increased  secretion  of 
urine,  sometimes  terminating  in  death.  The  alcoholic  extract 
kills  rabbits  under  convulsions,  if  one  drachm  is  taken ;  ten 
grains  of  it  show  still  a  marked  effect. 
Hellehorus  purpurascens,  Waldst.  Kit. — another  species — is 
used  by  the  Hungarians  in  the  same  manner  as  Hellehoi^us 
viridis  in  Austria,  especially  in  veterinary  practice.  The  Ro- 
mans call  it  Spang  ;  it  may  be  the  Cossiligo  of  Columella.  The 
fresh  root  is  very  much  like  that  of  Helleh.  viridis  in  external 
appearance  as  well  as  internal  organization.  One  drachm  of  it 
in  powder,  or  twenty  grains  of  the  alcoholic  extract,  are  suf- 
ficient to  kill  a  rabbit. 
Adopting  the  intensity  of  the  effects  produced  as  a  basis  of 
classification,  we  have  to  arrange  the  different  species  in  this 
order :  Hellehorus  niger,  ponficus,  purpurascens,  foetidus,  viridis, 
orientalis. — Zeitschr,  d.  G-esellsch.  d.  Aerzte  zu  Wien. 
THE  ADULTERATIONS  OF  MUSK  AND  THE  METHODS  OF 
EXAMINING  THE  SAME. 
By  Prof.  W.  Bernatzik. 
Musk  in  substance  is  examined  by  crushing,  pulverizing, 
microscopical  inspection  and  microchemical  investigation.  The 
more  important  agents  used  in  chemical  examination  are  :  rec- 
tified oil  of  turpentine,  glycerin,  potash-lye,  and  nitric  acid 
containing  some  nitrous  acid. 
