Cerate, historically simple cerate, (from
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...
''cera'' "wax") is an unctuous preparation for external application, of a consistency intermediate between that of an
ointment
A topical medication is a medication that is applied to a particular place on or in the body. Most often topical medication means application to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes to treat ailments via a large range of classe ...
and a
plaster
Plaster is a building material used for the protective or decorative coating of walls and ceilings and for moulding and casting decorative elements. In English, "plaster" usually means a material used for the interiors of buildings, while "r ...
. It can be spread upon cloth without the use of heat, but does not melt when applied to the skin.
Cerate consists essentially of
wax (for which
resin
In polymer chemistry and materials science, resin is a solid or highly viscous substance of plant or synthetic origin that is typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds. This article focuses on n ...
,
lead acetate Lead acetate can refer to:
* Lead subacetate
Basic lead acetate, also known as subacetate of lead, is the inorganic compound with the formula Pb3(OH)4(O2CCH3)2. A white solid, it is one of several lead acetates.
History
Goulard's extract is a s ...
or
spermaceti
Spermaceti is a waxy substance found in the head cavities of the sperm whale (and, in smaller quantities, in the oils of other whales). Spermaceti is created in the spermaceti organ inside the whale's head. This organ may contain as much as of s ...
is sometimes substituted) mixed with oil, lard, and various medicinal ingredients. The cerate of the United States Pharmacopoeia is a mixture of three parts of
paraffin and seven parts of
lard
Lard is a semi-solid white fat product obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of a pig.[Lard]
entry in the ...
.
References
*''The Century Book of Facts'', 1901, p. 398
*''Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary'', 1913 Edition.
*
Routes of administration
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