COCCUS CACTI. 207 



adulterations so often practised by the Indians, bears a higher 

 price both in America and Europe.* 



The quantity at present annually exported from South America 

 is said by Humboldt to be 32,000 arrobas, estimated at 2,400,000 

 piasters, about 500,000/. sterling. 



Cochineal has a faint disagreeable and a bitter austere taste. 

 According to M. M. Pelletier and Caventou, the colouring matter 

 which composes the principal part of the cochineal is mixed with 

 a peculiar animal matter, a fatty matter, phosphate and carbonate 

 of lime, and muriate and phosphate of potass. The colouring 

 matter which they have named carminium is soluble in water, 

 alcohol, and solutions of pure alkalies. Carmine is prepared by 

 precipitating the colouring matter from its solution in water, by 

 means of alum or oxide of tin. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Cochineal has been recom- 

 mended as an antispasmodic and anodyne in hooping cough ; 

 but its principal use is to impart a fine colour to tinctures and 

 other preparations. It is sometimes adulterated with an admix- 

 ture of a manufactured imitation, composed of coloured dough. 

 The fraud may be very easily detected by the action of boiling 

 water, which dissolves the spurious grains, while it has little action 

 upon the genuine insect. 



Lac is the produce of an insect formerly supposed to be a kind 

 of ant or bee, but now ascertained to be a species of Coccus ; and 

 is collected from various trees in the East Indies, where it is found 

 so abundantly, that, were the consumption ten times greater than 

 it is, it could be readily supplied. This substance is made use of 

 in that country in the manufacture of beads, rings, and other 

 female ornaments. Mixed with sand it forms grindstones ; and 

 added to lamp or ivory-black, being first dissolved in water with 

 the addition of a little borax, it composes an ink not easily acted 

 upon when dry by damp or water. In this country, where it is 

 distinguished by the names stick-lac when in its native state, 

 unseparated from the twigs to which it adheres ; seed-lac when 

 separated, pounded, and the greater part of the colouring matter 



* Humboldt's Political Essay on New Spain, iii. p. 7-2-9. 



