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CERATA— CERATES 



These are preparations of medical substances with fats and 

 waxes of such a consistency as to be soft enough to spread upon 

 muslin or other material and not soft enough to liquify when ap- 

 plied to the skin. They are called Cerates because they contain 

 wax or cera. They may be prepared by fusion or incorporation but 

 all the official ones are directed to be made by the "former method, 

 Three are official : 



to make 10.0 Gm. 



Melt, the rosin, add the yellow wax and lard and continue the 

 heat until liquified. Then strain through muslin. Allow it to con- 

 geal with occasional stirring. 



In cold weather 5.3 Gm. of lard and 1.2 Gm. of wax may ge used. 



SUPPOSITORIA— SUPPOSITORIES 



Suppositories are solid bodies of various shapes and weights, 

 adapted for the introduction into various orifices of the body, and 

 melting or softening at body temperature. The vehicles usually 

 employed are oil of theobroma, glycerinated gelatin and sodium 

 stearate. The ideal suppository consists of a medicine blended with 

 some inert base which will not liquify at ordinary temperatures but 

 will melt at the body temperature. They may be prepared by three 

 processes, rolling, molding and compression. The first method con- 

 sists of making a mass, rolling it into a cylinder, cutting the cylin- 

 der and shaping with the hands. In case of those made by molds, 

 the mass is liquified and poured into thoroughly chilled molds. By 

 compression the medical substance is mixed with finely grated oil 

 of theobroma and compressed with a lever. 



