GLYCERINUM — GLYCERIN 477 



They possess the advantage of not becoming rancid but they are not 

 absorbed through the skin and do not readily penetrate animal and 

 vegetable parasites. Furthermore they are not easily saponified and 

 consequently are difficult to remove. 



Liquid petrolatum is similar to several trade named drugs, vrhite 

 albolene, liquid vaseline, petrolax and nimaerous others. It is used 

 as a vehicle for oily sprays for the nose and throat in man. It is 

 useful as a laxative for dogs and cats. An enema of liquid petrola- 

 tum will be found useful to soften hard feces in cases of impactions. 

 See purgatives, p. 237. 



PARAPFINUM — PARAFFIN 



Paraffin is a purified mixture of solid hydrocarbons usually ob- 

 tained from petroleum. Paraffin is not often used in veterinary med- 

 icine although it may be added to ointments to give them firmness. 

 It is used in human surgery in the treatment of facial blemishes. 



CETACEUM — SPERMACETI 



Spermaceti is the concrete fatty substance obtained from the 

 head of the sperm whale. It is a bland substance and used only to 

 give consistence or a higher melting point to ointments and cerates. 



CERA — WAX 



Wax occurs in two forms, Cera Flava and Cera Alba. 



Cera Flava, yellow wax is obtained by melting and purifying 

 the honey-comb of the bee. It is commonly called " beeswax." 



Cera Alba. White wax is the same substance bleeched by the air 

 and sunlight. Wax is only used to give consistence to ointments 

 or in the preparation of cerates. 



GLYCERINUM — GLYCERIN 



Synonym. Glycerole 



Glycerin is a liquid obtained by the hydrolysis of vegetable or 

 animal fats or fixed oils, purified by distillation. It is a clear color- 

 less liquid, of a thick syrupy consistence, slight characteristic odor 

 and sweetish taste. It is miscible with water or alcohol; insoluble 

 in chloroform, ether, or fixed and volatile oils. 



Glycerin is irritant to the skin and mucous membranes due to 

 the abstraction of water from them but when mixed with two or three 

 parts of water is emollient. It is used as a vehicle for other drugs 

 and as a protectant for slight wounds such as cracks and small fis- 

 sures of the skin. A small amount (1 — -2 drams in small animals) 

 injected in the rectum will stimulate peristalsis and cause the ex- 



