OFFICIAL PREPARATIONS 65 



VII. — Preparations Made By Mechanical Processes. 



Pulvis, pi. pulveres. — Powders are preparations of finely pulverized 

 drugs. Sugar of milk is frequently added, on account of its hardness, to 

 aid in pulverization and as a diluent. Comparatively tasteless, non-irri- 

 tating and often insoluble drugs are given in this form. Drugs that are 

 volatile, deliquescent or irritating are otherwise administered. Powders 

 are used to advantage in veterinary practice, since they are often taken 

 voluntarily on food. 



Trituratio, pi. triturationes. — Triturates are combinations of drugs 

 and sugar of milk, prepared by trituration. They occur in powder or 

 are pressed into tablets. 



Oleum, pi. olea. — Fixed oils are usually obtained by mechanical ex- 

 pression from the product of plants or the tissue of animals. 



Pilula, pi. pilulae. — Pills are preparations of drugs made into globu- 

 lar form by the addition of a suitable excipient, and should be of a con- 

 venient size for swallowing. 



Massa, pi. massae. — Masses are pasty mixtures suitable for making 

 pills. 



Suppositorium, pi. suppositoria. — Suppositories are medicinal sub- 

 stances incorporated with cacao butter and moulded into solid, usually 

 conical, bodies intended for introduction into the rectum or vagina, where 

 they melt at the temperature of the body. 



Confectio, pi. confectiones. — Confections are pasty masses, consist- 

 ing of powder incorporated with syrup. 



VIII. — Preparations Intended for External Use. 



Ltnimentum, pi. linimenta. — Liniments are liquid preparations with 

 an oily, alcoholic or soapy basis. 



Oleatum, pi. oleata. — Oleates are medicinal solutions in oleic acid. 



Unguentum, pi. unguenta. — Ointments are preparations having a 

 fatty basis (80 per cent, of lard). 



Ceratum, pi. cerata. — Cerates are similar to ointments but harder, 

 owing to the addition of 10 per cent, more wax. 



Glyceritum, pi. glycerita. — Glycerites are preparations whose solvent 

 is glycerin. ' 



Emplastrum, pi. emplastra. — Plasters are solid, sticky, supple prep- 

 arations intended for application to the skin, where they become adhesive 

 at the temperature of the body. In veterinary parlance they are often 

 known as "charges." 



Charta, pi. chartae. — Papers are fragments of medicated paper. 



Collodium, pi. collodia. — Collodions are solutions of gun cotton in 

 ether and alcohol, leaving a thin, dry, adhesive coating when applied 

 externally. 



IX. — Preparations Having Honey as an Excipient. 



Mel, pi. melita. — Honeys. 

 IX. — Non-Official Preparations Peculiar to Veterinary Practice. 



Bolus, pi. holi. — Balls are substitutes for pills. They are of 

 elongated, cylindrical shape, about two and one-half inches long, and 

 should weigh about two ounces when intended for horses. Various excip- 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



