or COCHINEEL, a drug used by the dyers, &c., for giving red colours, especially crimson and scarlets, and for making carmine; and likewise in medicine as a cardiac, cordial, sudorific, alexipharmac, and febrifuge.

The cochineal, in the state in which it is brought to us, is in small bodies of an irregular figure, usually convex, ridged and furrowed on one side, and concave on the other. The colour of the body is a purplish gray, powdered over with a sort of white dust. All that the world knew of it for a long time was, that it was gathered from certain plants in Mexico; and therefore it was naturally supposed to be a feed, till in the year 1692 Father Plumier gave Pomèt an account count of its being an animal. And this, though then disfigured, has been confirmed by subsequent observations. Indeed, to determine the point, we have now the means in our own hands, even in this part of the world.—We need only moisten and soak in water, or in vinegar, a number of cochineals till they are swelled and diffused, to know that every one is the more or less perfect body of an insect; the most imperfect and mutilated specimens always show the rings of the body; and from observing others, it will be easy to find the number and disposition of the legs, parts, or even whole ones, being left on several, and often complete pairs. In this way the legs, antennae, and proboscis, may be discovered. See Coccus above.

M. Macquer observes, that the cochineal of Sylvestre is gathered in the woods of Old and New Mexico. The insect lives, grows, and multiplies on the uncultivated opuntias, which grow there in great abundance. It is there exposed to the inclemencies of the weather, and dies naturally. The colour is more durable than that of the common cochineal, but less bright; but there is no advantage in using it; for, though cheaper, a greater quantity is requisite.