Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/791

 COCCOLITHS AND COCCOSPHERES COCHABAMBA 775 COCCOLITHS AND COCCOSPHERES, names given, I the former by Prof. Huxley, the latter by Dr. Wallich, to minute rounded bodies adherent to the gelatinous submarine protoplasm to which Prof. Huxley gave the name of bathybiw. (See BATHYBIUS.) The latter are larger and more complex in structure than the former. The coc- Coccoliths, magnified. eoliths he subdivides into discoliths and cyatho- liths. He describes the discoliths as oval discoi- dal bodies with a thick, strongly refracting rim, and a thinner central portion, the greater part of which is occupied by a slightly opaque cloud patch, corresponding to the inner edge of the rim, from which it is separated by a transparent zone ; in general, they are slightly convex on one side and correspondingly con- cave on the other, and the rim is raised on the more convex side; they are about 5-^ ff of an inch in their longest diameter. The cyatho- liths are like minute shirt studs, varying in size from ^-^ to 8ff V?r f an inch. Cocco- spheres are described as of two types, one com- pact, the other loose in texture ; the largest of the former type being about -j-gVs? and those of the loose type 7-^ of an inch in diameter ; they seem to be made up of bodies resembling cyatholiths ; in fact, Dr. Wallich believes that the coccospheres are the parents of the cocco- liths ; both, without doubt, are the calcareous hard parts belonging to bathybius. These bodies have been found fossil in the chalk, showing the close resemblance of the conditions under which the chalk beds were formed to those existing at the bottom of the present Atlantic ocean. COCCDLUS, the fruit of a climbing plant, called by Linnaeus menispermum cocculus, but Coccutus Indicus. now referred to a new genus, anamirta, im- ported from the East Indies. It is about the size of a pea, and somewhat resembles the bay- berry, having a dry, wrinkled exterior coat, within which is a shell enclosing a bitter, oily kernel. The bitter principle, called picrotoxine, is extracted by triturating the seeds with pure magnesia, and treating them with hot alcohol. To obtain it pure, it is again dissolved in alco- hol, and treated with animal charcoal. After proper evaporation, it is deposited in crystal- line form. In India, in Europe, and in the United States the cocculus Indicus, ground into a coarse powder, is used to intoxicate fish that they may be more easily caught. It is sometimes added to malt liquors, to increase their stupefying qualities. It is never given internally, but an ointment made from it is used in the East Indies as an outward appli- cation in obstinate cutaneous eruptions. A strong tincture of the fruit, rubbed upon the scalp of a child, has been known to produce fatal results. COCHABAMBA (coch/t, a lake, and pampa, a plain). I. A department of Bolivia, bounded by La Paz, Beni, Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, and Oruro; area, 26,808 sq. m. ; pop. about 380,- 000. It includes almost every climate, perpetual snows covering the mountains on its N. border, while the sugar cane and cacao grow to perfec- tion in its rich valleys. Gold and other min- erals exist, but mining receives little attention. The principal productions are cotton, sugar, dyewoods, and timber. It is divided into the provinces of Cochabamba, Sacaba, Tapacari, Arque, Ayopaya, Clissa, and Misque. The province of Cochabamba occupies a great plain at the foot of the snowy mountains, the passes leading to it being nearly 15,000 ft. high. This plain is cultivated througbout, and is very pro- ductive, the vegetation, which resembles that of the south of France, consisting wholly of im- ported species. II. A city, capital of the depart- ment and province, situated at the E. end of an extensive plain, 8,370 ft. above the sea, 122 m. N. N. W. of Sucre; lat. 17 27' S., Ion. 65 46' W. ; pop. about 40,000. It is built on both banks of the Eio de Rocha, which, as well as the Tamborada joining it just below, generally overflows in the rainy season, but is nearly dry during the rest of the year. The houses, mostly of but one story in height, are sur- rounded by gardens, and the city consequently covers much space. In the centre is a grand plaza, around which are four churches and the cabildo or government house, the latter a large plain building. There are in all 15 churches. The streets are broad and well kept, but the squares, used as market places, are generally littered with wares and goods and crowded with Indians. The prevailing language is the Quichua ; good Spanish is spoken by persons of rank only. Cochabamba, situated in a com- paratively isolated valley and devoted to agri- culture, has not only escaped the decline which has overtaken most of the other Bolivian towns, but has continued to prosper and increase. It has considerable manufactures, particularly of