CARRAGEEN. k:Ir'ra-gn (so called front ('arragheen in Ireland), ('AmtAtaF3EN sEA. Moss, or Inisn Aloss. A seaweed, or rather several species of seaweed, used both medicinally and as an article of food. The use of weeds appears to have been originally confined to the peasantry of the coasts of Ireland. They are, however. found on the rocky seashores of most parts of Europe, and of the eastern shore of North Amerk-a, large quantities being gathered for market on the Alassachusetts coast. The spe cies which principally constitntes the carrageen of ,onimpree is' rhOMMIIN crisp as, of which the varieties are remarkably numerous. It is 2 to 12 inehes long, branched by repeated forking, carti laginous, flexible, reddish-brown. After being collected, ear•ageen is washed. bleached by ex posure to the sun, dried, and packed for the market. The chief nutrients are •arbohdyrates, though more or less nitrogenous material is also present. as well as small amounts of nutri
ents. When treated for ten minutes with cold water. in the proportion of half an ounce of carrageen to three pints of water, and then boiled and strained, it yields, with or without spices, a very pleasant drink. With a larger proportion of carrageen, a thickish liquid or mucilage is obtained: and on boiling down this decoction, and cooling, a stiff jelly is procured. Nilk may be employed. instead of water, in the preparation of the various decoctions: and with the stro over 01w, along with sugar and spice:, when cooled in a mold. a kind of Llano »mope is obtained. Gelatin is manufactured from sea moss. (Other edible marine alga- are olnIse, or (/://0,/llnienia iralmata): stoke. or later (Porphyra larinota): tangle (Laminaria Iota), and many Japanese species.