HONEY 651 



Constituents. — 1, chiefly a fat, cetin or cetyl palmitate 



(CieH^CisHjiOj), composed of cetylic alcohol (CieHjjOH) and 



palmitic acid (HC15H31O2); 2, sperm oil, a small quantity. 



PREPABA.T10N. 



Ungnentum Getacei. (B. P.) 



Spermaceti, white wax, and olive oil. Made by melting and 

 mixing. 



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.— Mlel, Fr.; honig, G. 



A saccharine secretion deposited in the honeycomb by 

 Apis mellifica Linne (class Insecta ; order Hymenoptera). 



Properties. — 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. 

 Fresh honey contains sucrose or cane sugar, which is changed 

 into grape and fruit sugars. 



PRBPAEATION. 



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

 Synonym.— Uel depuratum, P. G.; miel despum6, mellite simple, 

 Fr.; gereinigter honig, G. 



Derivation.— Melt honey with two per cent, of its weight of paper- 

 pulp in water bath ; skim, strain, and add five per cent, of its weight of 

 glycerin. 



Dose. — Ad lib. 



Honey is employed as an excipient in electuaries and 

 confections. It is a demulcent and mild laxative for young 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



