1414 ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

dissections only of the former; viz. one by Gottwaldt, a second by Hegse (botb refem.

to by Ratzeburg , op supra cit .), and a third by Mortimer (Phil. Trans, vol- xX .** e d

173.0). The subjoined description and figure is from the memoir of the last-meutiauthority.

Fig. 279.

PvA-

7

m

Sexual organs of a female heaver,a. The two ureters.

6 b. The ovaria.

c. The uterus lying under the bladder.

d. The bladder contracted and empty of

urine.

e. The meatus urinarius, above two

inches long.ff. The castor sacs.g g. The oil sacs.

h h. Common orifices of the castor ductsand oil sacs.i. The vagina cut off.

k. The anus.

l. Part of the tail.

He says the animal had two ovaria, *’an uterus dividing into two horns ( uter bicornis ), as in the bitch. The bladder W; exactly over the body of the uterus. -*■meatus urinarius ran upon the vaginatwo inches in length. Just below the os pa ’on each side of the vagina, above the niea*urinarius (supposing the animal laid onback), a pair of pyriform bags were f° uD j’about If inches long, and 1 inch bro*diverging at their fundi or broad ends,approximating almost closely at their ,ieC a j sor narrow extremities, which were ^ an ( j s _communicating with the adjoining gl aD 'The membranes which formed thesewere tough, wrinkled, and furrowed, 0 ,livid dirty colour. They were hollow* acapable of containing about an ounce t ;tirwater. Upon opening them a small fi uan Jof dark-brown liquor, like tar, was f°ahaving an odour like castoreum,addition a smell of ammonia. It is V r ^ a $lthe emptiness of the sacs, and the u0U5 t j, equality of their contents, arose f r0 ®youth of the animal. About an inch 1° g (on each side of the vagina, were a p al -glands (oil sacs), each about l£ inches w »and 4 inch broad. Their form was ° bJ ®but irregular, and having several P’Ajgberances externally; their colour wa; P toflesh, like the pancreas. They seemcommunicate with the castor sacs, the sa®gland on each side opening external!V ^one common orifice, around which were |

black hairs.

Hab. — North America , fi" 0 ^ ; I

or 68° to about 33° north latitHEurope, from 67° to 36° north 1 ^tude, but becoming very scarce-appears to have been indigenous- gCapture of the Beaver - j 1avers are caught in various "A <-

_.... Wi. mis jL>EA»r-"- . g ;

beavers are caught in varioussometimes in traps, sometimes in nets. But the usual method is to j,,

up the beaver houses when the animals retreat to their bank hoi jwhich they are easily taken. $c

Commerce. —Castoreum is imported from North America „ ;c s ol JHudson’s Bay Company . The greater part of that brought overfor exportation. In 1839 duty (6d. per lb.) was paid on 80libs* ^cP

Description. —Two kinds of castor ( castoreum ) have longknown, viz. Russian and American. The latter, however, is th eone now met with in English commerce. nS )st»

1 . Amebic an Castor. ( Castoreum Americanum.) —It usually 0 ? ^of two isolated sacs, frequently wrinkled, and which are connecteto form two parts, like a purse, or like two testicles connected .