CAT 
for tiie beginning of 1800, with a catalogue 
of the southern stars of M. ile la Caille, of 
double stais, of changeable stars, and of 
nebulous stars ; a work very useful for the 
practical astronomer. To these, may be 
added. Dr. Herschel’s catalogue of double 
stars, printed in the Philosophical Trans- 
actions for 1782 and 1783 ; M. Messier s 
nebulas and clusters of stars, published in 
the “ Connoissance des Temps,” for 1784 ; 
and Dr. Herschel’s catalogue of the same 
kind, given in the “ Philosophical Transac- 
tions” for 1786. In 1789, Mr. Fra.ncis Wol- 
laston published in folio a “ Specimen of a 
general Astronomical Catalogue, ai ranged 
in Zones of North Polar Distance, and 
adapted to Januaiy 1. 1790.” In forming 
this catalogue, Mr. Wollaston has not made 
any use of those which precede Flamsteed, 
except in a small part that of Helvelius : 
but all the stars in the British catalogue of 
172.5 are inserted, as well as those which 
are in the three latter catalogues of M. de 
la Caille, those of Dr. Bradley in the Nau- 
tical Almanac for 1773 ; of M. Mayer ; of 
Dr. Maskelyne ; the double stars of Dr. 
Herschel; M. Messier’s nebulae; and all 
those of Dr. Herschel, excepting his second 
and third classes ; that is, all those which 
are capable of being discerned with any te- 
lescopes inferior to his own. This work 
contains five distinct catalogues, viz. Dr. 
Maskelyne’s new catalogue of 36 principal 
fixed stars ; a general catalogue of all the 
stars in zones of north-polar distance ; an 
index to the general catalogue ; a catalogue 
of all the stars, in the order in which they 
pass the meridian ; and a catalogue of zo- 
diacal stars, in longitude and latitude. 
CATANANCHE, in botany, a ge- 
nus of the Syngenesia Polygamia jEqualis 
class and order. Natural order of Com- 
pound Flowers. Division, Semifloscu- 
losEe. Cinarocephalae, Jussieu. Essential 
character : receptacle chatfy ; calyx imbri- 
cate ; down awned from a five-bristled ca- 
lycle. There are three species, of which 
C. ccerulea puts forth many narrow hairy 
leaves, which are jagged on their edges like 
those of buckshorn plantain; but the 
leaves are broader, the jags deeper and at 
greater distances ; these lie flat on the 
ground, turning their points upwards, 
which are very narrow. Between the 
leaves come out the flower stalks, which 
are in number proportionable to the size 
of the plant; for from an old thriving root, 
there is frequently eight or ten, and young 
plants do not send our more than two or 
CAT 
tliree ; each of the peduncles are termi- 
nated with single heads of flowers, having 
a dry, silvery, scaly calyx, in which are in- 
cluded three or four florets ; these are of a 
fine blue colour, with a dark spot at bot- 
tom, and in each the stamens, with their 
yellow summits, standing a little above the 
petals, make a pretty appearance. It is a 
native of the South of Europe. 
C.4TAPLASM, an external topical me- 
dicine, of a soft consistence, and prepared 
of ingredients of different virtues, accord- 
ing to the intention of the physician. See 
Pharmacy. 
CATARACT, in medicine and surgery, 
a disorder of tire humours in the eye, by 
which the pupilla, that ought to appear 
transparent and black, looks opaque, grey, 
blue, brown, &c. by which vision is va- 
riously impeded, or totally destroyed. 
CATARRH. See Medicine. 
CATASTASIS, in poetry, the third part 
of the ancient drama, being that wherein 
the intrigue, or action, set forth in the epi- 
tasis, is supported, and carried on, and 
heightened, till it be ripe for the unravel- 
ling in the catastrophe. 
CATASTROPHE, in dramatic poetry, 
tlie fourth and last part in the ancient dra- 
ma, or that immediately succeeding the ca- 
tastasis; or, the fifth act in modern tra- 
gedy. 
CATCH wm'd, among printers, that 
placed at the bottom of each page ; being 
always the first word of the following page. 
CATECHU, in chemistiy, a substance 
obtained bydecoction, and inspissation 
from the wood of the mimosa catechu, a 
native of India, is a very powerful astrin- 
gent, and contains a large proportion of 
tanning. It is almost wholly soluble in 
water, and in alcohol, but when acted upon 
by this, a portion of mucilage remains uu- 
dissolved : the component parts are 
Bombay catechu. 
Tannin 54.5 
Extractive matter 34.0 
Mucilage <>-5 
Residue 5 
100.0 
Bengal catechu. 
Tannin 48.5 
Extract 36.5 
Mucilage 8.0 
Residue 7. 
100.0 
