both the force and frequency of the pulse. It has been used in a great variety of diseases, most frequently perhaps in rheumatism and cholera, and has had a reputation in snake bites. Cimicifugine is a name improperly applied to an impure resin derived from this plant.—The name cohosh, or blue cohosh, is also given to caulophyllum thalictroides or pappoose root.
COIF, a head dress. In the middle ages a defensive covering for the head was called by this name, but it was applied more particularly to the covering for the shaven crown of the priests, and to the cap of the advocates. A barrister becoming a sergeant is said to be advanced to the degree of the coif, and takes position accordingly.
COIMBATORE, or Coimbatoor. I. A district of British India, in the presidency of Madras, between lat. 10° 14′ and 12° 19′ N., and lon. 76° 36′ and 78° 16′ E.; area, 8,099 sq. m.; pop. in 1871, 1,754,705. The district is enclosed on the north by the group of mountains bordering the table land of Mysore, and on the south by the Pulnai or Vurragiri mountains, and by the Animali range. The principal rivers are the Cavery, Bhowani, Noyel, and Ambrawutty. Although the climate is rendered insalubrious by several extensive morasses, it is better than that of the maritime parts of the Carnatic. Elephants abound. The vegetable productions consist mainly of dry grains. Among the productions are gram, various sorts of panic and of millet, turmeric, and tobacco. Teak and other valuable timber is produced, as well as castor oil and cotton; the last two articles form the principal exports. Experiments have been made with American cotton and Mauritius sugar, proving the fitness of the soil for their cultivation. The language spoken is the Tamil. II. The capital of the district, a well built town, occupying an elevated and dry situation on the banks of the Noyel, on the railway from Madras to Beypoor, 268 m. S. W. of Madras, and 600 m. S. S. E. of Bombay; pop. about 20,000. It contains a mosque built by Tippoo Sultan, who made this place one of his principal military stations. About 2 m. from the town, at Peruru, is a Hindoo temple, called Mail Chittumbra. It is roughly constructed, but covered with a profusion of Hindoo ornaments. Some time ago an ancient tumulus near Coimbatore was opened, and found to contain various weapons and other articles, such as were formerly in use among the Romans. The town was twice taken by the British: once in 1783, and again in 1790. A detachment of native infantry is stationed here. The European quarter is eastward and detached from the town.
COIMBRA, a city of Portugal, capital of the province of Beira, 120 m. N. N. E. of Lisbon; pop. about 19,000. It is situated on the river Mondego, in the midst of a mountainous but fertile and well cultivated tract. Its principal public building is the university, the only one in Portugal, founded at Lisbon in 1291, and transferred hither in 1308. It consists of 18 colleges, is divided into 6 faculties, employs 33 professors in ordinary and 22 assistant professors, has a library of over 30,000 volumes, and is attended by about 1,500 students; it is highly endowed, the courses of study are long, and the annual examinations are said to be severe. Coimbra is the seat of a bishopric, and has the wealthy Augustinian convent of Santa Cruz, with its immense Gothic structure. There are also a college of arts belonging to the Jesuits, a cathedral, eight churches, and several monasteries. On a hill near Coimbra is the splendid convent and church of the nuns of Santa Clara,
Plaza, Coimbra.
and in the valley of the Mondego opposite to it is the Quinta das Lagrimas, famed in poetry as the scene where Ines de Castro was slain. Seven kings of Portugal were born and four died here, and several princes derived their title from the town. Coimbra is said to be the Conimbrica of the Romans. It sustained many sieges in mediæval times.
COIN, a town of Andalusia, Spain, in the province and 20 m. W. of the city of Malaga; pop. about 8,500. It is well built, has good streets and squares, and a promenade with a fountain. Besides two large churches, there are several chapels and convents, an episcopal palace, and a number of schools. In the vicinity are pleasure grounds and gardens, and in the adjoining hills are marble quarries and great quantities of jasper. Paper, linen, woollens, and other articles are manufactured, and the principal articles of trade are cattle, cereals, fruits, and wine. An annual fair is held in August.
COINS (Fr. coin, a die or stamp), metallic money; specie; pieces of metal, generally gold,
