620 AGENTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN 



Cetaceum. Spermaceti. (U. S. <fe B. P.) 



A peculiar, concrete, fatty substance, obtained from (the 

 sperm whale) Physeter macrocephalus Linne (class Mam- 

 malia ; order Cetacea). 



Habitat. — Indian and Pacific Oceans. 



Froperties. — White, somewhat translucent, slightly 

 unctuous masses of a scaly-crystalline fracture and a pearly 

 lustre ; odorless, and having a bland, mild taste. It becomes 

 yellow and rancid by exposure to the air. Spec. gr. about 

 0.945. Insoluble in water, nearly so in cold alcohol ; soluble 

 in ether, chloroform, carbon disulphide, fixed and volatile 

 oils. 



Gonstittienf^. — 1, chiefly a fat, cetin or cetyl palmitate 

 (CigHjaCieHjiOo), composed of cetylic alcohol (CieHjgOH) and 

 palmitic acid (HCigHsiOj); 2, sperm oil, a small quantity. 



PREPARATION. 



Ceratum Cefacei. Spermaceti Cerate. (U. S. P.) 

 Spermaceti, 100; white wax, 350 ; olive oil, 550. Made by melting 

 and mixing. 



Unguentum Cetacei. (B. P.) 



Action and Uses. — Spermaceti resembles wax. It is used 

 as an emollient and as a basis for plasters, ointments, and 

 cerates. It is rarely used alone. 



Mel. Honey. (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Miel, Fr.; honig, G. 



A saccharine secretion deposited in the honeycomb by 

 Apis mellifica Linne (class lusecta ; order Hymenoptera). 



Froperties. — A syrupy liquid of a bright yellowish to a 

 pale-yellowish-brown color; translucent when fresh, but 

 gradually becoming opaque and crystalline ; having a char- 

 acteristic, aromatic odor, and a sweet, faintly acrid taste. 

 Nearly soluble in water. 



Constituents. — 1, grape sugar (dextrose); 2, fruit sugar 

 (glucose); 3, a volatile oil ; 4, wax ; 5, formic acid> a trace. 



