Ceratum Camphorae (U. S. P.)—Camphor Cerate.
Related entries: Camphora (U. S. P.)—Camphor
SYNONYM: Unguentum camphoratum.
Preparation.—"Camphor liniment, one hundred grammes (100 Gm.) 13 ozs. av., 231 grs.]; white wax, three hundred grammes (300 Gm.) [10 ozs. av., 255 grs.]; lard, six hundred grammes (600 Gm.) [1 lb. av., 5 ozs., 72 grs.]; to make one thousand grammes (1000 Gm.) [2 lbs. av., 3 ozs., 120 grs.]. Melt the white wax and lard with the aid of a gentle heat; then add the camphor liniment, and stir the mixture occasionally until it has become cold"—(U. S. P.).
This preparation is somewhat softer than the cerates in general. It contains about 2 percent of camphor. This preparation, formerly (U. S. P., 1880), contained less than 1 per cent of camphor, and was originally intended and is now used as a basis for the extemporaneous preparation of Goulard's cerate.
Action and Medical Uses.—Antipruritic and slightly anodyne. It possesses no advantages over camphorated oil.
Other Camphor Cerates.—CAMPHOR CERATE, of a former edition of the French Codex, is prepared by melting together white wax (1 part), and lard (9 parts), employing moderate heat, and finally stirring into the mixture until dissolved, powdered camphor (3 parts), continuing the stirring until the whole is cold.
CERATUM CAMPHORAE COMPOSITUM (N. F.), Compound camphor cerate, Ceratum camphoratum, Camphor ice.—Formulary number, 19: "Camphor, in a coarse powder, one hundred and seven grammes (107 Gm.) [3 ozs. av., 338 grs.]; white wax, one hundred and fifty grammes (150 Gm.) [5 ozs. av., 127 grs.]; castor oil, two hundred and fifty grammes (250 Gm.) [8 ozs. av., 358 grs.]; spermaceti, four hundred and eighty grammes (480 Gm.) [16 ozs. av., 408 grs.]; carbolic acid, liquefied by warming, two grammes (2 Gm.) [31 grs.]; oil of bitter almond, one gramme (1 Gm.) [15 grs.]; benzoic acid, ten grammes (10 Gm.) [154 grs.]. Melt the white wax and spermaceti on a water-bath, add the castor oil and afterwards the camphor, and continue heating and stirring until the camphor is dissolved. Then withdraw the heat, cover the vessel, and when the mixture has somewhat cooled, add the remaining ingredients, and thoroughly incorporate them by stirring. Lastly, pour the cerate into suitable molds"—(Nat. Form.).
For other cerates containing camphor, see Ceratum Cetacei.
