INSECT- WHITE-WAX OF CHINA. 



71 



1853. 



The use of the wax in the candle manufacture in this country 

 has been made the subject of a patent granted in 1845 to Mr. 

 Samuel Childs. He advises its mixture with stearic acid in the 

 proportion of one part to twenty, and speaks also of em- 

 ploying it in the manufacture of " Composite" bees' -wax and 

 spermaceti candles. When combined with stearine it has been 

 found serviceable in what is technically called breaking the grain 

 (i.e., diminishing the crystalline texture) of the stearine pre- 

 viously to its being formed into candles. 



As a medicine, the insect- wax is used by the Chinese both Medical uses. 

 externally and internally for a variety of ailments. Du Halde 

 says " it makes flesh grow, stops bleeding, eases pain, restores 

 strength, braces the nerves, and joins broken bones together." 1 

 Grosier, besides mentioning its employment as an application 

 to wounds, states that it is sometimes swallowed to the extent 

 of an ounce at a time as a stimulant (!) by those about to speak 

 in public. 2 



NOTICE OF A SPECIMEN OF INSECT -WAX FEOM 



CHINA. 



1856. 



(Head before the Linnean Society, April 15th, 1856.) 



[Abstract.] 



MR. D. HANBURY exhibited a specimen of Chinese Insect- Specimen, 

 wax in the crude state, attached to the branch on which it had 

 been formed by the insect, Coccus Pe-la, Westw. 3 (G. sinensis, 

 Westw., Pharm. Journ. xii. 478). 



The specimen was obtained by Dr. M'Cartee, of Ningpo, at a 

 spot about fourteen miles N.E. of that city. The exact locality Locality. 

 is described as "three miles from Chin-hae, southerly, behind 

 the first range of hills across the river, in the direction of 

 Ling-fung," where the trees supporting the wax-insect occur on 

 the banks of the canals. 



1 Description of the Empire of China, translated from the French of 

 P. J. B. Du Halde. Lond. 1741, vol. ii., p. 230. 



2 General Description of China, 1788, vol. L, p. 442. 



3 Gardener's Chronicle, for Aug. 20, 1853, p. 532. 



