1396

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

of

the appearance of soft gingerbread. (For further details respecting the structut emusk sac consult Brandt and Ratzeburg 1 , Med. Zool. Bd. i.)

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IIab. —Asia , between 16° and 58° north latitude, and 92° andeast longitude. Especially on the Atlas and Himalayan ranges.Cochin-China , Tonquin, Tartary, and Siberia , have all been c^e e,.,for the musk. The animal is timid, and dwells in cold mountain 0tricts, where coniferous plants abound.

Capture of the Animals. —Various methods of catching the *are adopted. Sometimes they are taken by snares or gins, sornet 1 ^. epitfalls, sometimes by shooting them. The Tungouses, one of thetribes of Siberia , employ the bow and arrow only. & lSi t

Description. —Three kinds of musk are described, viz. China , o0 ]f-(or Kabardine), and Bucharian. I am acquainted with the two tu1. China , Tonquin, or Thibet Musk, (Moschus tunquinf® ^ 0 uttibetanus). This is imported in small rectangular boxes (cattie /’

7 J inches long, 4-f inches broad, and 4^deep ; covered externallyand lined with sheet-lead and paper. These boxes contaiu about o e o>five sacs, or pods, each wrapped separately in paper. On the 01 ‘on ^the lid of some of the boxes is marked “ Lingchong Muskinside of the lid is a rude Chinese representation of the musk ^ tb ssome shooting the animal, others cutting out the musk-bag- . bln epaper, which envelopes each pod, are similar rude representationsor red ink.

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Pod musk (moschus in vesicis ) consists of roundish, or somewh a fit.pods, which are generally broader at one end than at thehairs are brownish-yellow, or greyish, or whitish, bristle-like, ca1 #;arranged in a concentric manner around the orifice of the sac- ^ po ‘

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examination will always discover the remains of the penis-are about 2^ inches long, and 1J inches broad. The weight of ^as well as of the contained musk, is very variable. I am i lK ‘Noakes, druggist, of Snow Ilill, for the following account of t* 1of six pods, and of the grain musk obtained therefrom :—

P

Pods of Musk.

Weight.

Contend

1 .5! ss .

1.givss.

1.3' , hj- grs. xxxvijss_I

1.jix. grs. xlvijss. ...

1.5 V .\ S?rs. xx.

1.i ijss.

. Grain Musk, 5 XV J' ^ rS '

*»•

Total 6.gxxxvij. grs. xv.

, 5 XV J-

rs. V'

xliis*

k (moschus in granis; moschus ex vesicis ) 1 v c ol°' > ’ e \\

te feel, mixed with hairs, of a dark reddish-brow . sjy j.’ ’ rsistf 1 ' jt ’■

Average 1. 3 vj. grs. xijss...5U- = ijf-

L rn<>

Grain musk

unctuous to the ^

bitter aromatic taste, and a strong, remarkable, very P erslB g iiiC e{musky odour). Its odour can scarcely be called peculm r >^j_. 0 * ijKcommon to several animals and vegetables. Thus the mthe musk-cat evolve it. The submaxillary gland of y jjry Jsecretes an unctuous musky substance. Among pl aI1 ’^c rC 1moschatum, Malva moschata, and Centaurca moscliata, 111 a '