Ceratum-Cerate

Cerates are unctuous substances of such consistency that they may be easily spread, at ordinary temperature, upon muslin, or similar material, with a spatula, and yet not so soft as to liquefy and run when applied to the skin. They are not often prescribed. Three cerates are official.

Charta Paper

Papers are preparations intended principally for external application, made either by saturating paper with medicinal sub-stances or by applying the latter to the surface of the paper by the addition of some adhesive liquid. These should not be confounded with chartula, meaning"a little paper"folded so as to form a receptacle containing a dose of a medicinal substance. There is no official paper.

Cholagogue

A purgative that stimulates the flow of bile. Examples: Calomel, inspissated oxgall, sodium glycocholate, and sodium tauro-cholate are usually placed in this class.

Collodium - Collodion

These are preparations intended for external use, having for their base a solution of pyroxylin or gun-cotton, in a mixture of ether and alcohol. Three are official.

Confectio-Confection

Confections are saccharine soft solids in which one or more medicinal substances are incorporated with the object of affording an agreeable form for their administration and a convenient method for their preservation. They are not often prescribed, and are not official.

Corm

A short, solid, underground stem. Example: Colchicum.

Counterirritant

An agent that is applied locally to produce inflammatory reaction, with the object of affecting some other part usually adjacent to or underlying the surface irritated. Examples: Mustard, chloroform, cantharides.

Decoctum-Decoction

Decoctions are liquid preparations made by boiling vegetable substances with water. When the strength and method of preparation are not otherwise specified, they are made by boiling 5 parts of the coarsely comminuted drug for fifteen minutes with enough water to make 100 parts. There are no official decoctions.

Deliriant or Delirifacient

An agent that will produce delirium. Examples : Hyoscine, atropine.

Demulcent

An agent that will soothe the part to which applied. The term is usually restricted to agents acting on mucous membrane. Examples: Mucilage of acacia, mucilage of tragacanth, milk.

Deodorant

An agent that removes odor. Examples: Potassium permanganate, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide.

Depressant

An agent that will depress a body function. According to action they are subdivided as motor, cerebral, etc. Examples: Bromides, aconite, hydrated chloral.

Diaphoretic or Sudorific

An agent that will increase perspiration. The term sudorific is usually confined to those active agents that cause drops of perspiration to collect on the skin. Examples: Pilocarpine, opium, camphor.