AD′IPOCERE

(-sēre). Syn. Grave-wax ‡; Adipoce′′ra , L.; Adipocire , Fr.; Fetewachs , Ger. A substance resembling a mixture of fat and wax, resulting from the decomposition of the flesh of animals in moist situations, or under water. It is chiefly marg a rate of ammonium. Lavoisier proposed to produce this substance artificially, for the purposes of the arts. Attempts have since been made to convert the dead bodies of cattle (carrion) into adipocere, for the purposes of the candle-maker and the soap-boiler, but without succe . Besides, dead animal matter can be worked up more profitably than in making artificial adipocere. Hatchet tine or rock-fat is sometimes called ‘adipocere’; and bog-butter is a substance nearly similar to it.