Musk

MUSK, Moschus (from Sanskrit "mu-ska"-testicles), the secretion of the preputial gland of the male musk deer (Moschus moschiferus L.). The use of M. for therapeutic purposes existed in China even in ancient times. Ancient Indian pharmacy used M. under the name "kasturi"; under this name, the Arabs introduced M. to Europeans. Since the 16th century, the word Castoreum, previously used to denote both M. and castoreum, began to be used only in relation to castoreum, while the modern name became established for M. - Musk glands are special secretory organs, located mainly in the genital area and secreting a strongly fragrant substance whose scent serves to attract individuals of the opposite sex. Similar glands are found in many animals: the musk ox, the desman (desman secretion), the muskrat, etc. Freshly obtained M. is a semi-liquid mass with a strong specific ammoniacal odor; M. is sold either in musk pouches (M. in vesicis), i.e., the gland itself with its contents, removed whole from the killed animal and covered with natural coverings, or in the form of hardened gland contents - pieces of irregular size, externally resembling clotted blood and no longer possessing the original ammoniacal odor (M. ex vesicis). The odor of M. is extremely persistent, characteristic, and pervasive. One can recognize 10~^th g of M. in 1 liter of air. Water dissolves 50-75% of M.; 90% alcohol - 10-12%.-Being extremely expensive, M. is subject to numerous, often very skillful, undetectable adulterations. The composition of natural musk is very complex, and among its components have been found protein bodies, fats, cholesterol, various salts, including ammonium carbonate, etc. The odor of M. is apparently due to muscone, a compound with the ketone formula C₁₆H₃₀O. Many substances alter (resp. weaken) the odor of musk: Aq. Amygd. amar., Secale cornutum, quinine, camphor, mineral acids, etc. To prevent other medicines from acquiring the odor of M., as well as all apparatus used in preparing medicinal forms containing M., should be stored separately, preferably in a closed special cabinet. M. found therapeutic application in various types of collapse, comatose states, and other phenomena of general weakness. However, there are no scientific studies confirming the advisability of using M. in these cases; nor is its use as a stimulant of the sexual sphere experimentally confirmed. American authors recommended M. for persistent hiccups, spasm of the glottis, and other neuro- and psychogenic diseases. M. is prescribed in the form of powders (in wax paper) 0.1-0.5 per dose and tincture 1 g M.: 5 parts of weak (about 32°) alcohol, 10-30 drops per dose. For medical consumption, at present extremely rare, so-called Tonkin M. (M. tonquinensis) is predominantly admitted. M., obtained from the musk deer found in the Altai Mountains, Kazakhstan, Oiratia, and other southeastern regions of the USSR (M. siberian), is not admitted for use, although it has been proven (V. Tikhomirov) that, if properly aged, Siberian M. does not differ in any way from the best Chinese.-M. Yunnan differs from the preceding in the absence of most of the hairs covering the lower part of the musk pouch in M. tonkinian. M. Tampi represents musk pouches devoid of outer coverings. Both varieties are valued lower than Tonkin; they are used in perfumery.-Musk in places of sale is divided into three grades: I - quite genuine (pile I), II - doubtful (pile II) and III, containing little actual musk (pile III).-"Artificial musk" refers to organic compounds with a strong musk odor, for example trinitrotert-butyltoluene (tonkinol) (CH₃)₃C.C₆H(CH₃)(NO₂)₃.-Musk has incomparably greater significance in the perfume industry, where it is used as a fixative, i.e., a substance that retains the scent of perfumes; but even in this industry, musk is gradually being replaced by synthetic products.