Barbadoes aloes powdered, from 5 dr. to 1 oz.
Hard soap 3 to 4 dr.
Ginger 1 dr.
Water 1 dr.
Oil of cloves 10 drops.
Beat the soap, oil of cloves, and water together in a mortar, so as to
form a paste; if necessary use more water. Add the powdered aloes and
ginger, and beat the whole into a ball.—_White._
CATTLE, _s._ Beasts of pasture, not wild or domestic.
CAUF, _s._ A chest with holes, to keep fish alive in the water.
CAVISSON, _s._ A head-stall provided with a nose-band and ring, to
which a long cord is attached. The cavisson is used in the
earlier stages of horse-breaking.
CAUSTICS, _s._ Medicaments which, by their violent activity, and
heat, destroy the texture of the part to which they are applied.
The most powerful is the _actual_, or hot iron; but there are many other
caustics possessed of great strength, which speedily destroy the parts
to which they are applied. If a solid caustic is wanted, nothing is more
convenient than the lunar caustic (nitrate of silver). Milder caustics
are more frequently used; such as sulphate of copper, red precipitate,
(nitric oxide of mercury,) burnt alum, &c.
Strong caustics are employed to destroy unhealthy or diseased parts; and
for cleansing foul ulcers, so as to produce a healthy state, and render
them curable by more simple applications. Caustics, divided into liquid
and solid, are strong and mild. The mild are often called _escharotics_.