Viverra
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Viverra is a digitigrade carnivorous animal found in tropical Asia, Africa, and southern Europe. These animals have special glandular pouches that secrete a substance called viverreum or civet, which has a musky odor and was historically used in folk medicine.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
Viverra (Viverra), a digitigrade carnivorous animal. Viverra zibetha (civet; in tropical Asia), V. civetta (African civet; in tropical Africa) and V. genetta (in southern Europe) have special cutaneous glandular pouches, opening in females between the anal and genital orifices (perineal glands), while in males they are located in front of the scrotum on both sides of the penis (preputial glands). The secretion of these glands (in dry state of brown color; it is called viverreum or civet) causes the musky odor emitted by the Viverra. At times, the secretion is released in small lumps. For the artificial obtaining of viverreum, Viverras are kept in narrow cages, the secretion is scraped out with a spoon from the pouch of the fragrant glands, or it is collected from the walls and bars of the cage where it remains when the pouch rubs against them. This substance had application in folk medicine, similar to musk. In scientific medicine, it is not used.
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Cite this page
“Viverra.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/viverra/