The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-01-25
ABOUT AMBERGRIS.
The Nanseous Whale Product from
Which Come Delicate Perfumes
Exceedinxly valuAhae Decanse nare :
Founl Only In Diseased Whales-1e Sells
for $50 IN Ounce-Most Of It Goes
to French Perfumers.

What il ambergris? In the Arabian
Nights" we are told Of eastern beauties j
whose cheeks were marked with moles
like bits of ambergris; and in the
story of the sixth voyage IT "SlnDao
the Sailor" we read in the description OF
the place where the voyagers were
wrecked: "Here is also fountain OF
pitch and bitumen that runs into the
sea, which the fishes swallow and then
vonit it up again. turned into a1noer-
rris!' That antique author, Robert
I,ovle. considered it to be OF vegetable
production and similar to yellow am
bcr; thus it received its name, amber
cris (gray gray amber.
This and other even mora plausible
theories are but indeed fallacies that
puzzled savants have set forth when
they were at loss to account for Its
origin, It is now ascertained beyond
doubt to be generated by the large
headed sperm whale and is the result
Of diseased state of the animal. The
victim of this rare malady may possl-
bly throw off the morbific substance; or
finally die of the ailment. The disease
is located in the intestinal canal, and
some sayants suppose it to be caused by
hillary irritation. After deep study
on the subject several modern scientists
have agreed that the disorder is akin to
that now fashionable human peril, APP
pendicitis, intensified and prolonged in
this great mammal, yet that dread all
ment that has but lately been under
stood by the surgeons and medical men
of the world.
It is known that the ambergris whale
feeds upon the cutie fish. This crea-
ture is armed on its head with sharp
pointed, curved Elack horn resemhling
a birds beak, much like that of par
rot, only the lower Inandible is the
larger. This is found-as it is too in
destructible to be digested--in many
specimens of ambergr:s, and may often
times aid in establishing seated dis
ease. It may be considered though to
be but the primary cause of irritation,
as much of the finest ambergris is en-
tirely free from the tough little
horns. Such is the effect in the
whale of the magnifed-and tremend-
ously magnifed- illness which. when
established in our own comparatively
puny organism, causes an instant and
fatal collapse unless quickly and he
roically attacked by the skill OF the sur
geon. The habits of the great water
mammals, however, tend toproiong life,
and their resisting power against this
insidious destroyer is eloquent OF their
tenacious hold on existence.
To the conservative whale fisher OF
New Bedford or Frovincetown, the dis
covery of ambergris is as unexpected
and as longed-for os the sheeny splendor
of the pearl that gladdens the pearl
fisher. Almost nwe-stricken are the
sailors when the cry of .'ambergris'' is
uttered. This is the happy event of q
lifetime. The substance is carefully
taken from the bowels of the whale and
is packed in casks, if it is in liquid form,
or in sacks, if it is dry enough.
It is then brought direct to Boston.
where it is appraised by she head Of the
largest wholesale drug firm n the city.
This young man has no enviable task
before him in ascertainirg the value of
the article. He has to examine the fetid
mass, which is sometimes OF rank
LIQUID state, sometimes of The consis-
tency Of soft putty, and again, chalk
like substance. That which is more like
putty usually is to be relied on for MAX
ing the best market ambergris, and
gradually, as it dries. the only curing
process it undergces, the unwholesome
dark shade gradually turns to soft
squirrel gray. The substance lightens
in weight and the fascinating odor de-
velops an odor almost indescribable,
like the blending of new-mown hay,
the damp woody fragrance OF fern
copee, and the faintcst possible per-
fume of the violet.
And to what Use is ambergris put?
It is an indispensable article with fine
perfumers, as it is used to give per-
manency and lasting qualities to very
fleeting scents. It is curious fact
that the keynote or basis of "ncse-
gays" or ssbouquets,' as handkerchief
otlors are called, is not, as one might
suppose, the altar of garden flowers.
neither the penetrating balsams.
These are indispensable, but are not the
groundwork. That basis is always one
of the four animal odors, j. G., amber
eris musk, obtained from small musk
deer OF Asia: civet, from the civct cat
OF India, and castor, q secretion OF the
castor beaver. and now almost obsolete