This art may be likewise, beneficially practised by persons of low melancholic temperament; as, according to the nature of the tunes played, it is equally calculated to excite pity, to sooth the mind, and to rouse the social affections. But, as the principles by which these various combinations are regulated, constitute a profound and extensive science, our limits will not permit us to enter into any analysis. The curious reader will derive amusement and instruction from the perusal of Mr. Kollman's Essay on Musical Harmony (fol. 1l. 1s. 1796); the same author's Essay on Practical Musical Composition (fol. 1799, 1l. 1s.), and Mr. Shield's Indroduction to Harmony (4to. Robinsons, 1800): in which the subject is scientifically discussed.—The History of Music, as well as its present state, in France, Italy, Germany, &c. has been ably treated in the voluminous publications of Dr. Burney, whose writings on this interesting topic possess classical merit.
MUSK, a drug resembling clotted blood, which is obtained from the musk-bearing animal (Moschus Moschiferus, L.) a native of the South-eastern parts of Asia, Siberia, and China: it is secreted in a small bag found beneath the lower belly ot this ruminating quadruped.
Musk has a bitter, somewhat acrid, taste; and emits a fragrant odour which, at a distance, is very agreeable: the best is imported from the East, in round thin bladders, about the size of a pigeon's egg, which are covered with short brown hairs. The substance itself is dry, and consists of small, round, grains, of a reddish-brown or dark rusty colour, somewhat unctuous, but perfectly free from sand or similar adulterations.—It pays on importation, the sum of 2s. 212d. per ounce troy; and the same duty when it is taken out for home-consumption (if sold by the East India Company), beside 2l. per cent. on its value.
This strong scented drug is greatly esteemed in the East, on account of its medicinal properties; though it has not till lately, been employed as a perfume in Britain; and is still more rarely used as a medicine. Musk, however, appears to be possessed of considerable efficacy; especially in convulsive hiccoughs and fits, if administered in doses consisting of from eight to ten grains.—It is likewise an excellent anti-spasmodic, and has sometimes been prescribed with advantage, in slow, or nervous fevers, to the quantity of a scruple, taken three or four times in twenty-four hours.—See also Gangrene.
With a view to caution the reader against impositions in the sale of musk, we refer him to the article Beaver, or Castor moscatus, vol. i. p. 210.
Artificial Musk, is a chemical preparation thus denominated, on account of its possessing all the essential properties of the genuine drug. It was first invented by Maggraf, and has been lately recommended to public notice by Prof. Hufeland: it is prepared in the following manner:—One dram of rectified oil of amber is first poured into a wine glass, on which a dram and a half of the concentrated nitric acid, or smoking aquafortis, should be gradually and cautiously dropped. The mixture, on agitating it, grows hot, and emits offensive vapours, against which the nostrils must be guarded: when it has stood twenty-four
