MUSK, Dledieal Properties of. Musk, taken in the dose of a few grains, rouses the energy of the digestive organs ; and it soon after wards produces sympathetic phenomena, the powers of the whole animal system appearing suddenly increased. By repeating the dose till half a drachm or a drachm is consumed, the active principles penetrate the whole frame, influencing all the tissues, and exciting effects demonstrative of its stimulating property ; the blood circulates with mom force, accompanied sometimes with bleeding from the nose : the perspiration and other secretions are perceptibly increased. Other effects prove that it also acts on the brain, spinal chord, and ganglionic nerves, such as tendency to sleep, convulsive movements, and parti cularly spasms of the chest and abdomen. Owing to idiosyneracies, musk produces in some persons very extraordinary effects, at times so violent that they cannot bear the faintest odonr of it.
Musk has been recommended in typhus and other fevers, when there exist low delirium, hiccup, twitching of the tendons, &c. But Its beneficial action is not so constant as to justify much reliance main it. It is much more useful in diseases purely nervous and spasmodic, where no inflammatory action has preceded or is present. Hence even in epilepsy, as well as hysteria, it is serviceable. In laryngirmus stridulus, called epileptic croup, or crowing respiration, of children, it is very useful. In combination with ammonia it is useful in arresting a tendency to gangrene. Likewise in retrocedent gout it has proved successful. It was found of little avail in severe cases of Asiatic cholera, though useful in the milder forms of it.
Artificial musk should never be used for medical purposes.