Musk: Sources, Processing and Uses

(With Diagram)
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Synonyms:
Moschus, Kasturi.

Biological source:
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Musk is a dried secretion obtained from the preputial follicles of musk dear Moschus
moschiferus Linn.

Family:
Cervidae

Geographical source:
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The animal musk dear is found in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas and in
China. It is also reported in Russia.

Processing of Musk:
Musk dear is a small animal of 50 cm height and differs from respect that there are no
antlers in either sex. It is a wary animal of iron-grey colour. The musk is contained in an
oval hairy projecting sac found only in the male, situated between the umbilicus and the
prepuce. The sac, also known as pod, is about 3-7cm long and 3-5 cm broad. It weighs
about 30 g and contains half its weight of musk. The sac opens by a small hairy orifice in
its anterior part and marked posterior by a groove or furrow, which corresponds with
the opening the prepuce.

Description:
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i. Colour: Dark brown or brownish red.

ii. Odour: Very strong and characteristics.

iii. Taste: Slightly bitter.

iv. Musk occurs in viscid mass or coarse granular powder.

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Chemical constituents:
i. When distilled, musk yields about 1.5% w/w of dark brown volatile oil. It also contains
fat, wax, cholesterin, albuminoids and resins.

ii. The volatile oil chiefly contains ketonic substances, of which muskone is the main
constituent.

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Uses:
1. Therapeutically, it is administered as powerful stimulant in the treatment of hysteria.

2. Antispasmodic and diffusible stimulant, together with more or less aphrodisiac

action.

3. Its powerful and lasting odour makes it valuable as a perfume, either alone or in
combination with other substances.
Adulterations:
An artificial musk is manufactured by the Chinese and is made up chiefly of a mixture of
blood and ammonia to which a small quantity of real musk is added, the whole being
enclosed in a piece of the skin of the musk ox. Resin, lead, and other substances are also
resorted to in preparing adulterations.