Castor.—Castor or castoreum has been noticed under Drugs (see p. 798), as it possesses almost as great importance in medicine as iu perfumery. Two or three kinds are distinguished, differing considerably in chemical composition and in odour. The Canadian has the weaker odour, resembling that of old willow bark ; the Siberian or European is much stronger, and recalls that of birch-oil. The pear-shaped sac occurs the most frequently, especially in Canadian. Egg-shaped sacs are suspected by the buyer as containing more carbonate of lime. Adulteration may be detected by dividing the sac, either by breaking or cutting, when the membranes become visible if it is genuine. The main commercial distinction lies between the Russian (Siberian) and Canadian (American), the Bavarian being considered nearly equal to Russian. In a dry state, castor manifests little odour, but it is developed remarkably by infusion in spirit. It is used in perfumery to give permanency to other odours, being rarely esteemed itself. The Hudson's Bay Co. import some 1000-5000 lb. yearly.
Civet (FR., Civette; GER., Zibeth).—Civet is another of the odorous animal secretions con tained in glandular receptacles near the genital organs. The true civet cat (Viverra Civetta) inhabits portions of the African continent, from Guinea and Senegal to Abyssinia. The Asiatio species is V. Zibetha, which is found in many parts of India, the Moluccas, and other island groups. V. Basse is peculiar to Java, where its perfume is largely made use of. In the Moluccas, Wallace found V. tangalunga, inhabiting both Batchian and Bourn, and probably some of the other islands. He supposes it to have been introduced accidentally, as it is often captured by the Malays, who procure civet from it, and it is a restless and untamable animal likely to escape. The same species is common in the Philippines, and in all the large islands of the Indo-Malay region. Formerly numbers of V. Civetta were kept in confinement at Amsterdam ; and a similar collection of V. Zdgetha is, or was, maintained at Travancore. The aromatic secretion was removed from the pouch by a little spoon about twice weekly, the animal being meanwhile confined in a crib. About 1 dr. was obtained at a time. Flesh, but particularly fish, is the favourite food in confinement. The secretion of V. Zibetha, which is the chief kind in British commerce, is prepared for market by spreading on leaves of the pepper-vine, to free it from loose hairs. Civet, when good, has a clear yellowish or brownish colour, and a buttery consistence ; it is frequently adulterated with butter and lard. Its undiluted odour is repugnant, but in infinitesimal proportion it is agreeable. Macerated in spirit, it is used chiefly as a fixing ingredient of compound scents, more largely in France than in England, where musk is preferred. The fragrant secretions of the genet or Spanish
cat ( V. Genetta) and of V. pallida do not seem to have been utilized.
Musk (FE., Muse, Graine d'ambrette; GER., .1Ifoschus, Bizam).—In common usage, the term " musk " is applied in compound names to a number of products of both animals and vegetables. Foremost is the musk-deer (Moschus mosohatus), which will be described at length in this article.
The musk-ox (Cris moschatus) affords a valuable skin (see Skins), but its odour is not utilized. The musk-rat or musquash (Fiber zibethicus) is provided with preputial follicles containing a substance of musk-like odour, but is valued only for its pelt (see Fur, p. 1032). The musk-rat of India (Sorer indicus) diffuses a most powerful odour of musk, as also does the pilori of the Antilles. Several Brazilian monkeys are said to emit an odour of musk. The alligator of Central America carries an odoriferous substance in the axillary glands and under the jaw, which, 200 years ago, was extracted and used as a perfume. The musk-glands of the crocodile are similarly utilized by the natives of some parts of Africa. In W. Australia, the aborigines obtain musk from the musk duck (Biziura lobate). Several longicorn beetles exhale a musky odour, notably the British musk beetle (Callkhroma moschata); and somewhat similar perfumes pervade some species of Cerambyx. The most recent addition to animal musks, or substitutes for musk, has been made by Dr. Bertherand, in the droppings of the gazelle (Gazelle Dorcas), common in the Sahara. The dried excrement is said to yield to rectified spirit 7 per cent. of a mixture containing a resinous musk-like principle, benzoic acid, a biliary acid, and colouring matter.
Among vegetable musks, maybe mentioned the musk-plant proper (Mimulus moschatus), common in window-culture. The musk-wood of the Guiauas and W. Indies (Guarea trichilioides, and other species) smells strongly of musk, the odour being greatest in the bark, which may be used as a perfume. Musk-like fragrance is also exhibited by Erodium moschaturn, by the sumbul or musk root (see Drugs, p. 826), by the spikenard of the ancients (Nardostachys Jatamansi), by the tuberous moschatel (Adoxa Moschatellina), by the silver-leaved musk-tree of Tasmania (Eurybia argophylla), by the musk-wood of Jamaica (Moschoxylum Swartzii, and Guarea spp.), and finally by the seeds of Hibiscus Abelmoschus, which plant is better known perhaps for its fibre (see p. 962). This last kind is known as musk-seed, and is commercially valuable as a perfume. The plant is cultivated in Martinique, whence its seed is largely exported to France as ambrette or grain d'ambrette. It is occasionally imported into London, and fetches about 4s. a lb.