Tinctura Moschi. U. S. Tincture of Musk. Tr. Mosch.

Botanical name: 

Teinture (alcool6e) de Muse, Fr. Cod.; Moschustinktur, G.; Tintura di muschio, It.; Tintura alcoholica de almizcle, Sp.

"Musk, five grammes [or 77 grains]; Alcohol, forty-five mils [or 1 fluidounce, 250 minims]; Water, forty-five mils [or 1 fluidounce, 250 minims]; Diluted Alcohol, a sufficient quantity, to make one hundred mils [or 3 fluidounces, 183 minims]. Triturate the musk with the water gradually added until a smooth mixture is obtained; transfer this to a bottle and allow the mixture to macerate for twenty-four hours; then add the alcohol and macerate the mixture for six days, with occasional agitation. Transfer this mixture to a plain paper filter, and, when the liquid has drained off completely, wash the residue on the filter with sufficient diluted alcohol to make one hundred mils [or 3 fluidounces, 183 minims] of Tincture." U. S.

This tincture was reduced in strength about one-half in the U. S. P. 1890, on account of the greatly increased cost of musk. This change, in our opinion, was ill-advised, and does not secure the main object, as the patient will have to take double the dose, even if the alcohol be therapeutically contraindicated. The process has been arranged so as to make the end-product 100 mils, as very few pharmacists will require 1000 mils of tincture of musk. Musk will yield its virtues to the above menstruum if the process be followed; if wanted for its odor it will be economy to add a minim of solution of sodium hydroxide to the water used to rub the musk into a smooth paste. Care should be especially taken to use pure grain musk in this preparation.

Dose, from thirty minims to two fluidrachms (1.8-7.5 mils).


The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.