MUSK. • Kado, . . . . Bum I f. D'ed'es, Rasi, . MALAY. . . CHIN. Jabal, .
Kasturi, . . . HIND. Mitts, Oorula, . SINGH.
Musk of commerce is a secretion of the musk deer, the Moschus moschiferus of the IIimalaya, Siberia, Tonquiu, and Cochin-China. In the year 1879-80, India exported 3224 ounces, value 90,039 rupees.
The musk-bag is at the end of the yenis. It is globular, about if inches in diameter, and hairy, with a hole in the centre about the size of a lead pencil, from which the secretion can be squeezed. The orifice of the urethra lies near this, a littlo posteriorly. Round the margin of the opening of the gland is a circle of small glandular-looking bodies. In the living musk-deer the musk has the consistence of honey, is of a brownish-red colour, and has a strong odour. When dry, this musk is almost solid, granular, and of a dark brown colour. It feels unctuous and fatty, has a bitter aromatic taste, and its smell is powerful. Good musk is in irregular, unctuous, light, dry, reddish-black, or dark-purple grains, concreted in a slightly oval bag, about 11 inches in diameter, hairy on one side and not on the other. They
weigh from 200 to 250 grains a-piece. The small dark bags with the greyish hairs arranged evenly around the centre are the best.
The trace when rubbed on paper is a lively yellow, and no grittiness is felt or, residue left. It is sometimes adulterated with dried blood or eatechu. If the former be present, agitation with distilled water will often form a solution, coagulated by heat. The latter is detected by adding a solution of muriate of iron to the water in which the musk was diffused. A deep black colour is produced if catechu be present. Glob ules of lead are often fraudulently introduced into the sacs ; the best test is the strength of the alcoholic solution.
Three other deer are said to yield musk, viz. the Napu or Moschus Javanicus, Raffles, found in the woods of Java and Sumatra ; the Kranchil or M. Kranehil, Raffles; and the Chevrotain of the Altai, the M. Altaicus, Esch.—Smith's 111. M. C.