USES OF WAX. 537 



vertas.''—"t\im often your style;" thereby meaning: "Care- 

 fully correct your writings." 



Several nations of old, having noticed that beeswax does 

 not rot, used it to embalm their dead. Alexander the Great 

 ^^•as embalmed with wax and honey. 



868. Beeswax is largely used by the Catholic churches, for 

 lights, during the ceremonies, for it is prescribed to priests 

 to use exclusively ivax produced by bees. 



869. In several countries of Europe the floors and stairs, 

 instead of being covered with carpets, are rubbed with wax 

 and carefully scrubbed with a dry brush every day till they 

 shine. In Paris, floor scrubbing is a business which supports 

 many working families. 



Beeswax is used also by the sculptors and painters to 

 varnish their work, to model wax figures; by dentists to take 

 imprints of jaw-bones. It is retailed in small lumps and 

 used to give smoothness and stiffness to thread for sewing. 



The casting of bronze statues and works of art a cire 

 perdue, has been largely practiced in France since the Renais- 

 sance. This process is mentioned in Harpers' Monthly for 

 September, 1886. 



870. Beeswax forms part of a great many medicines, and 

 pomades for the toilet. Here are a few recipes selected among 

 hundreds of others : 



1. Salve or Cerate for Inflamed Wounds. 



Beeswax 1 part 



Sweet almond oil i parts 



Dissolve the was in the oil and stir well till cold. Svreet 

 almond oil can be replaced by olive, or cotton seed, or linseed 

 oil, or even by fresh unsalted butter. 



This cerate, may be used as a vehicle by the endennic 

 method— we mean by frictions on the thin parts of the skin 

 —to introduce into the blood several substances, such as 

 quinine, against fever ; surphur, for itches ; camphor, henbane, 

 opium, as sedatives; iodine, as depurative; and so on, the- 

 only- care being to have the drugs carefully mixed. 



