WAX

n. Wa2x. Gr.,/cjpd. Lat.,cera. Fr.,czre. Ger., Wachs. A softish, plastic concrete substance, consisting e entially of various compounds of the higher acids of the fatty-acid series, especially myricylic and cerotic acids. [B.] Andaquies \v. The w. of a peculiar species of bee found near the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. [B, 2.] Beesw., Bees' w. Fr., cire d'abeille [Fr. Cod.]. A yellowish or brownish concrete substance deposited by the honeybee in the honeycomb. It di olves in boiling alcohol and sparingly in ether, and melts at 63 C. It consists e entially of rnyricin, cerotic acid, and cerolein. When bleached, it forms the cera alba of the U. S. Ph. [B.] Brazil w. See CARNAUBA-W. Butter of w. A strongly smelling, buttery substance left behind on freeing w. of its acid principle by distillation. [B, 86.] Carnauba-w., Ceara w. See CARNAUBA-?^. China w., Chinese (insect) w. A hard, white, crystalline substance, consisting chiefly of ceryl cerotate, used in China and Japan medicinally and for making candles It is the purified product of an insect (Coccus ceriferus), which deposits it on the twigs of Fraxinus chinensis. It melts at 82 to 86 C. [B, 4 (a, 35).] Ear-w. See CERUMEN. Earth w., Fo il w. See OZOKERITE. Grave-w. See ADIPOCERE. Ibota w. A white insect w. deposited on Ligustrum ibota. [a, 35.] Indian vegetable w. See GETAHLAHOE. Insect w. Any w. deposited by insects, [a, 35.] Japanese w., Japan w. A hard, waxy fat, derived from the stone-fruits of several species of Rhus, consisting chiefly of palm at in. It occurs in commerce in hard, yellowish cakes or large, rectangular blocks covered with a fine white efflorescence, and is used like beesw1. [a. 35.] Mineral w. See CERESIN and CIRE niinerale. Myrica w.. Myrtle w. Ger., Myrtenu-aclts, Myricatalg, Myricawachs. Myrtle-berry w., the bayberry tallow of commerce; a hard, green, or grayish-yellow substance of resinous smell, obtained from various species of Myrica. It is more brittle than beesw1, is somewhat bitter, and is readily saponifiable with the alkalies. It varies somewhat in composition. It is used with beesw' for candles, and by the Hottentots as food. [B, 5, 77, 185 (a, 35); B, 270 (a. 38).] Ocuba w. A fatty substance (sometimes confounded with myrtle-w.) obtained from the fruits of Myristic a ocuba; used like beesw'. [a, 35.] Oil of w. See Oleum CEKJE. Ointment of w. See Unguentum CERJE. Paraffin w. See PARAFFIN (1st def.). Pulverulent w. See CERA amylata. Vegetable insect w. See Chinese w. Vegetable w. Lat., phytocerasium. Fr., cire vegetole. Ger., Pflanzenu-aclis. A w. or waxy substance of vegetable origin, U2, blue; U3, lull; U4, full; U5, urn; IT", like U (German). [s. 727]