COCOA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 123 



disease. Cocculiis indicus is said, however, to be used in large 

 quantities by brewers and publicans for increasing the bitterness 

 and intoxicating powers of malt liquors ; but a heavy penalty 

 is inflicted upon those detected in so doing, and upon druggists 

 who supply it to brewers, as it contains an acrid irritant poison, 

 called Picrotoxin. It is also used for what is termed drugging, an 

 overdose of it causing death. It is further used as a fly poison. 



Cochineal. {See Nopal.) 



Cockscomb (Celosia cristata), an annual of the family 

 Amaranthaccce, native of India, introduced into this country 

 300 years ago ; the typical form is a branching plant, bearing 

 loose spikes of flowers. The crested head of the garden cocks- 

 comb is a monstrosity brought about by cultivation. 



Cocoa Nibs. {See Chocolate Nut.) 



Cocoa Nut (Cocos nucifera), a palm, native of the coasts 

 of tropical Africa, India, Malay, and islands of the Indian and 

 Pacific Oceans. It is generally cultivated throughout all tropical 

 countries, but thrives best near the sea, and requires no special 

 care. The tree varies in height from 50 to 100 feet, and has 

 long winged leaves, the so-called nuts being produced in 

 bunches of 10 to 20 or more together. They are of a triangular 

 form, about a foot long, consisting of a thick coat of fibre, 

 enclosing a hard shell, which, with its contents, is known as 

 the Cocoa Nut. It is commonly said that the uses of the 

 Cocoa Nut are as numerous as the days in a year, affording 

 food, drink, domestic utensils, and materials for building and 

 thatching. In some parts of India and other countries, the 

 white albumen of the nut forms nearly the entire food of the 

 natives, and the white fluid or milk serves them for drink. 

 It also yields wine and sugar. Cocoa-nut Oil is obtained by 

 pressing the albumen. When fresh it is transparent, and is 

 then used in cookery. Large quantities of it are imported into 

 this country under the name of Copra ; the thicker portion, 

 called Stearine, being used for making candles, wliile the 

 clear oil is used for burning in lamps. The well-known sub- 

 stance Glycerine is obtained in the process of purifying Cocoa- 



