When heated it becomes quite fluid and at a higher temperature takes fire and burns with a clear flame, leaving little residue. It is insoluble in water, and only slightly soluble in ether and cold alcohol, but heated alcohol dissolves it almost entirely, depositing it again upon cooling. It contains, among other ingredients, a volatile oil, fat, and free ammonia. Sack (Ap. Ztg., 1915, 423) has separated from civet a ketone which he calls zibethon which, even in solutions as low as 1 in 1000, shows a fine musk-like odor. E. Charabot and A. Hebert give the following tests for civet of normal quality: When dissolved in a mixture of alcohol and ether less than 6 per cent, residue should remain. The saponification number of civet should exceed 100, and the fatty acids which are separated from the saponified civet after acidulation with sulphuric acid should exceed 50 per cent. (Bull. Soc. Chim., 1910, iv, 7, 687.) In medicine it \was formerly employed in lieu of castor and musk; it is now used exclusively as a perfume. For analyses of commercial samples, see P. J., 1897, 101.