Ambergris

Ainbergris is supposed to be a morbid secreÜon of the liver of spermaceti whales, found tlouting, or washed ashore, m Southern seis. It is a little lighter than water, andmight be easily mistaken lor a piece of the bark of a tree. On examination, however, it is found to be of a waxy nature, streaked with grey, yellow and black, and emitlhikr a peculiar aromatic odor. It fuses at 140 to 150 degrees Fahr., and at a higlier temperature gives out a white smoke, which condenses into a crystallitic fat tv matter. It is found all si zes, f rom one pound up to twenty or thirty; but occasionally pieces are pickedup, or found in whales, weighing one or two hundred pounds. Ambergris has been known lïom an early period, some pharmacopcfias prescribing it for fevers and nervous coiii])laints. It is sometimes mingled with tlie incensé burned in Roman Ciitholic churches, and is also put in certain kinds of wines to improve the "bouquet." The great use of ambergris is in the manufacture of perfumery. Not that its fragrance is either very powerful or pleasing; but it possesses the peculiar property of causing other ingredients to throw out their odors and make them mord suecific and durable. I ii tbis respect it bears a resemblanee to the use of morbants in Ciyeing without which the eolors would íail to become peniiíinent. Henee all the best perfumes oontain Ambergfis, which is onereason of their costliness; and henee, also, the fact that home-made cologne, for instance, smells of alcohol. The costliness of ambergris is owing, of course, to its comparative scarcity and the uncertainty attending its discovery. It is, therefore, held inore valuable than gold, ranging tn priee tro 1 1 1 twelve to twenty dollars ;in ounce. Thus it isa little singular that two of the most precious products of the sea are the result of disease - pearls and ambergris. The diseovery of even a si nal 1 piece ot ambergris helps niaterially to increase the profit of a voyage. It may not be generally known that the head-quarters of the world for imbergris is in Boston, one liouse having the monoply of the business, and sup plying the leading perfuméis óf Europe and America. Consequently, this estalilisliment kee]ís a good supply always on hand, and there it was recently the writer's. privilege to inspect a lump of the precious disease, whieh weighed 121 pounds and was valued at the round sum of $22,000.-