COCA. Erythroxylon Coca

This plant is grown largely in Peru and Bolivia. The Bolivian coca is said to be much superior to the Peruvian. The best kind is believed to come from the province of Yungas, and the most inferior description from Peru. The consumption of Coca in Peru, Bolivia, and in some of the provinces of the Argentine Confederation is enormous. In small doses it is supposed to act as a stimulant and to aid digestion; in large ones it is said to po e dangerous narcotic properties. The mountaineers in South America state they are enabled to reach high elevations without difficulty of respiration, and to stave off the feeling of hunger by chewing the leaves during their ascents. “Good quality coca should have its leaves unbroken, of a medium size, bright green in colour, and of an odour somewhat combining that of hay and chocolate. The taste is bitter, and when masticated, coca is said to yield easily to the teeth. Infused in hot water, it has a beautiful green colour, which, however, is much darker from inferior leaves. An infinite number of varieties are recognised between the best and the lowest quality, which has a disagreeable smell and a colour resembling roasted coffee. The leaves are also bent and broken, scarcely a whole leaf being found amongst them.” [249] The statements as to the effects of coca are conflicting, as will be seen from what follows:—Sir R. Christ is on, writing to the ‘British Medical Journal,’ April 29th, 1876, states he was hardly sensible of the fatigue of two mountain descents made from Ben Vorlich after chewing coca leaves. That, as a consequence of his doing so, hunger and thirst were suspended for a long time, but that eventually appetite and digestion were unaffected. He made trial during the first descent of 60 grains, and of the second, undertaken eight days after, of 90 grains of coca. [249] ‘Pharmaceutical Journal.’ Mr Dow des well, in a communication to the ‘Lancet,’ May 6th, 1876, says that, contrary to the experience of Sir R. Christ is on, he found no decided effects produced after consuming nearly a pound of the leaves, which were taken in all forms and at all hours for nearly a month. They failed to produce the slightest excitement, not giving rise even to the feeling of buoyancy and exhilaration which is experienced from mountain air or a draught of spring water. In the ‘Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal’ for August, 1877, there is a paper by Mr Shuttle worth, wherein results the opposite to those of the last-named gentlemen are recorded. Mr Shuttle worth states that the members of a club established at Toronto for the purpose of playing at La Cro e, a very violent and fatiguing pastime, were almost unanimous in ascribing their invariable succe over their numerous adversaries to the use of coca leaves during their contests; their opponents not employing the plant. The antagonists of the club were men of stronger build and physique as well as more accustomed to out-of-door pursuits, and were besides trained players. The same writer says that in South America care is taken to procure the leaves in as fresh a state as po ible, and that many writers have ascribed the want of effect to old leaves. The ‘British Medical Journal’ of March 10th, 1877, contains a communication from Dr T. McBean, who states that he has found the administration of coca leaves useful in typhoid fever, as well as in other febrile diseases.