Cetaceum-Spermaceti.-Nearly pure cetine, obtained, mixed with oil, from the head of the Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus, inhabiting the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is separated from the oil by filtration and pressure, and afterwards purified.

Characters.-Crystalline, pearly white, glistening, translucent, with little taste or odour, reducible to powder by the addition of a little rectified spirit. Scarcely unctuous to the touch ; does not melt under 100°.

Substance resembling Spermaceti: White Wax, known by general appearance and hardness.

Composition.-Spermaceti is a fat, containing as its base, not glycerin but cetylalcohol, in combination with palmitic acid. C16H33O.C16H31O.

Preparations.

Unguentum Cetacei.-About 1 in 5, with White Wax and Almond Oil.

Getaceum is used in preparing Charta Epispastica.

Use

Spermaceti is an emollient, and is also employed pharma-ceutically.