The present invention provides a water-soluble acrylate polymer that makes it possible to obtain a gelling base having a gel strength recited below when the gelling base comprises the components and the proportions thereof listed belowwhen the gelling base is gelated by being allowed to stand under the conditions of 25°C and a relative humidity of 60%, the resulting gel has a gel strength of 5,000 to 9,000 dyn/cm2 after standing for 7.5 hours and a gel strength of 10,000 to 15,000 dyn/cm2 after standing for 200 hoursthe gelling base comprising:4 parts by mass of glycerol, 4 parts by mass of propylene glycol, 5 parts by mass of a water-soluble acrylate polymer, 0.2 parts by mass of a dried aluminum hydroxide gel exhibiting acid reactivity with 0.1 N-HCl of 180 seconds, 0.25 parts by mass of tartaric acid, and 86.55 parts by mass of distilled water.