1382
ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
ribbons of wax arc here lifted out, and conveyed in baskets to theble“^ ging grounds, where they are exposed to the air for one or two "(according to the state of the weather), being turned every day-wax is then re-melted, re-ribboned, and re-bleaclied ; it is subseq 11refined by melting in water acidulated with sulphuric acid. ^ ea \.
Properties of White Wax. —White wax (cera alba ; cera _batum ) is yellowish-white; 1 have never met with pure " aXfectly white. The circular cakes of commerce, as well as wax ca |jj olir .always contain spermaceti, which the dealers add to improve the c ^ alPure wax is solid, brittle, inodorous, or nearly so, insipid, fusible, aI U eSa much higher temperature decomposable. Its specific gravityfrom 0-8203 to O'905. otIie r
Composition. —According to John, wax is a compound of twowaxy substances;—the one called cerine, the other myricine. These
i. 88).
been examined by Boudet and Boissenot ( Journ. de Pharm. xm
1. Cerine .—This constitutes at least 70 per cent, of wax. It fuses at
dissolves in 16 parts of boiling alcohol. By saponification with potash it ) ie a poiUgaric acid, a minute portion of oleic acid, and a considerable quantity of a non-liable fat called cerdine. i 1 trf s P’
2. Myricine .—It fuses at 149° F. It dissolves in 200 parts of boiling alcon°
gr. of0 833. It is not saponifiable by potash. e( J of
Ettling says that cerine, ceraine, aud myricine, are isomeric, and conipGR* HR* O. (Thomson, Org. Ckem.) is
More recently Hess ( Pharm. Central-Blatt. f ur 1838, p. 332) asserts that KJygiiOO-homogeneous,and possesses the properties of myricine; its composition being C . aC idThe difference between cerine and myricine he ascribes to the presence ol cformed by the oxidation of myricin. ,
1 deM ,a ”
Physiological Effects and Uses. —Wax is an emollient and ucent. It has been administered internally, in the form of emulsi< ulpared with melted wax and soap, yolk of eggs, or mucilage), i» j jsand dysentery, especially when ulceration of the alimentarysuspected. In these cases it has been used by Ilufeland and M e< jjje .It has sometimes been employed as a masticatory, but its action ^ aclianical only. Its principal use, however, is externally, sometime®^ t j lt >mild sheathing or protecting application, sometimes as a basis • j-eapplication of other agents. It is a constituent of all cerates, wh ictheir name from it. The vapour evolved from wax placed on i eiron has been inhaled in phthisis.
1. Emplastrum Cera;, L. Emplastrum simplex, E. Ewp *-,j.attrahens. (Wax; Snet, of each, lb.iij.; Resin, lb.j. L. —Bees’-" aX ’ a te
ij. E. —“ Melt them together with a nio^, ^till it concretes on cooling- . ll6 sEmployed in the preparation of Emplastrum Cantharidis* ■ ®° n
used to promote discharge from a blistered surface. ^ yell 0 "
2. Emplastrum Aromaticvm, D. (Frankincense {Thus), -’‘lb ’, ^.e >Wax, Sss.: Cinnamon Bark, powdered, 5vi.; Essential Oil of - ' ,y a s
Essential Oil of Lemons , of each, 5ij. Melt the Frankincense a co0 lingtogether, and strain ; when they are beginning to thicken by_^
* The following preparation of cantharides was omitted at p. 1375:— ,, -nil 1 !'
Emplastrum Calefacikns, D. (Plaster of Cantharides, one part : ^y.-T ii)' sPitch, seven parts. Melt them with a medium heat [between 100° aud 200 u .jyiJgli 1well and make a plaster). Employed as a useful stimulant and rubefacient icolds, headaches, local pains, &c. In some persons it produces vesication.