CARMINE (Fr., Med. Lat. carmesinus, Pers. girmizi, crimson, from SkI. krmija, produced by worm. from krati. worm -4- :Nardi. jayati% to be born). A beautiful red pigment obtained from cochineal and employed in the manufacture of the liner red inks, in the dyeing of silk, in artificial !lowers. and in miniature and water-color painting. It was first prepared by a Franciscan monk at I'isa. who discovered it accidentally while eompounding some medicine containing cochineal. and in 1656 it began to be manufaetured. Ono process for its preparation is as follows: Digest I pound of in 3 gallons of water for 15 minutes. add 1 native of cream of tartar. heat gently for 10 minutes. add half an ounce of alum. boil for 2 or :I minutes, end after allowing any impurities to settle, plaee the clear liquid in clean glass pens. in which the carmine will be slowly deposited; after a time drain ell' the liquid, and let the carmine dry in the shade. In the preparation of earinine. much
depends on a elear atmosphere and a bright, sunny day. as the pretty color of the carmine is never nearly so good when it has been prepared in dull weather; and this accounts. in great part. for the superiority of French (guanine over that prepared elsewhere. An excellent quality of var mine may also be obtained by pulverizing co•hi neal. treating it with it solution I if sodium car bonate. adding, albumin to the solution. and then preeipitating with dilate acid. The coloring principle of cochineal is earminie acid. C,;11,.0m an amorphous red substance soluble in water and in alcohol: carmine is a compound of this acid with chalk and alumina. With zinc oxide and alumina carminic acid forms the valuable color substance knoll': as carmine lake, which is made front the residues of cochineal obtained in the manufacture of carmine. Carmine lake is largely used in painting and in printing.