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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: ALM-ANC |
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AMBERGRIS (Ambra grisea, Ambre gris, or grey amber) , a solid, fatty, inflammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour, the shades being variegated like marble, possessing a peculiar sweet, earthy odour. It occurs as a biliary concretion
spermaceti whale (Physeter macrocephalus), and is found floating upon the sea, on the sea-coast
coast
East
ambergris which is brought to England comes from the Bahama Islands, Providence, &c. It is also sometimes found in the abdomen of whales, always in lumps of various shapes and sizes, weighing from z oz. to zoo or more pounds. Ambergris , when taken from the intestinal canal ofAMBIGUITY the sperm whale, is of a deep grey colour, soft consistence and a disagreeable smell. On exposure to the air it gradually hardens, becomes pale and develops its peculiar sweet, earthy odour. In that condition its specific gravity ranges from 0.78o to o926. It melts at about 62 C. to a fatty, yellow resinous-like liquid; and at oo C. it is volatilized into a white vapour. It is soluble in ether, and in volatile and fixed oils; it is only feebly acted on by acids. By digesting in hot alcohol, a substance termed ambrein, closely resembling cholesterin, is obtained, which separates in brilliant white crystals as the solution cools. The use of ambergris in Europe is now entirely confined to perfumery, though it formerly occupied no inconsiderable place in medicine
East
adulteration , but its genuineness is easily tested by its solubility in hot alcohol, its fragrant odour, and its uniform fatty consistence on being penetrated by a hot wire.End of Article: AMBERGRIS (Ambra grisea, Ambre gris, or grey amber) If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
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