Characters. - It is a greyish-white, deliquescent powder with a strongly alkaline reaction.

Reaction. - It gives the tests of potassium (p. 603) and calcium (p. 646). Preparation. - Equal parts of caustic potash and lime made into a paste with alcohol.

Uses. - It is used for the same purposes and in the same manner as caustic potash, but being less deliquescent its action is slower and more limited; it is thus more easily restricted to the part which it is wished to destroy, and is less liable to spread.