BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 383 
diuretic and aphrodisiac. Externally it is ru- 
befacient and vesicant; it is also an acrid poison ; 
the dose } to r grain (0.01 too.07 grams). The 
officinal preparations are the TINCTURE, CERATE, 
COLLODION, and WARMIMG PLASTER (emplastrum 
calefaciens), etc. 
Cetaceum, Spermaceti.—This solid crystal- 
line fat is obtained from the head of the sperm 
whale, the physeter macrocephalus, class Mam- 
malia and order Cetacea, which is found in the 
waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Sper- 
maceti is not found in the whale as we see it in 
the stores, but as a mixture of oil and other for- 
eign bodies, from which it is separated by melt- 
ing in water, expressing, congealing, etc. 
Spermaceti, as found in the stores, occurs in 
large masses or cakes of a white crystalline na- 
ture, easily powdered by the means of alcohol, 
melting at about 120° F., with a specific grav- 
ity of 0.95, and contains principally a substance 
called cetom, which the chemists term cety/ 
palmitate, When saponified, spermaceti yields 
a white crystalline substance, called ethal, in 
in place of glycerine, which latter constituent 
is found in all of the other fats and oils. Sperm- 
aceti, in conjunction with other remedies, forms 
ointments and cerates, several of which are 
officinal. 
Civetta, Civet.—This substance is found in 
a pouch or gland, between the anus and genital 
organs of the Viverra Zibetha, or civet cat; 
class Mammalia, and order Carnivora, 
Civet, when fresh, is unctuous and of a yellow- 
ish color. but as found in commerce it is of a 
brownish shade, and somewhat agglutinated; 
