HOMOGANGLIATA. 



Articulated Animals, 



No. 10. 

 COCCUS CACTI. 



COCHINEAL, INSECT. 



The animal substance. Cochineal. A medicinal agent. 



Geog. Position. Mexico. 



Quality. Faint, heavy odor ; bitter, austere taste. 



Power. Antispasmodic, anodyne. 



Use. Whooping-cough, neuralgic affections. In pharma- 

 cy, to color tinctures and ointments. In the arts, to dye 

 scarlet and crimson, and in the manufacture of carmine 

 and lake. 



SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS. 



Natural Classification. 

 4. DIVISION Homogangliata. CLASS Insecta. 



Ballard and Garrod, Mat. Med. 458. Syst. Nat. Gmelin, I. 222. Elem. Nat. 

 Hist. II. 318. Pereira, Mat. Med. II. 793. Thomson, Mat. Med. *73. Load. Disp. 

 287. U. S. Disp. 261. Wyatt, Nat. Hist. 133. EC. Disp. U. S. 13a 



GENUS COCCUS. 



Cochenille (Fr.), Cochenille (Ger.), Cochenilje (Dutch), Konsienell (Swed.), 

 Cuzzinel (Dan.), Coccinilia (It.), Cochinilla (Sp.), Cochineel poochie (Tarn.). 



THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS. 



Wings two, covered by two elytra generally membranous at 



their free extremity. 

 Mouth formed for suction, the rostrum composed of a tubular 



articulated sheath, including four scaly setce in place of 



mandibles and jaws, organs which have disappeared in 



these insects. 

 Elytra in some crustaceous, with the posterior extremity 



membranous ; in others almost similar to wings, but more 



extended, thicker, and colored. 



Eyes never more than two, and many have smooth eyes. 

 Metamorphosis generally incomplete. 



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