Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-08
a New Diet for tho Army-How 20 Obtain
the Ruperhumau Powers,

n New Diet for the Army-HoW 20 Obtafn
the superhuman Powers.
The Erythroxylon Coca has attracted the
attention of DR.. J. F. Maisch, who con-
tributed an article in regard TO IL 10 the
August number Of the Medical dRa ,S,uyieal
Reporter, in which he recommends the sur
geons of our army and navy to test its power
of preserving human life.
This plant is indigenous to the mountain
GUS regions Of Bolivia and Peru, and is cub
tivated in districts elevated from two th0s,
sand to five thousand feet above the sea, Ia
is valued chiefly for its narcotic properties,
which il possesses in a greater degree tAAa
any other vegetable production, noi exeeiN,.
ing opium and tobaeeo.
The Peruvisns gather Nv leaves and
after dying them in The SaS, eAew ,Aesa IN
connection with rsaN os ,Ae A,sAASse ashes
ofsOme plants, which they ssSsga readers NE
flavor Oi the plant SeassN,e 10 SAe sasSe,
Prescott, in his kNyA says the CSsA Is ss
sOinvis0rStipg 50 nA,sve, 'SAAs he Peruvian,
with = srsAn sUpply II Il in his PsasA and
handful Nf rNsstei EAise, performs his
veariSoue journeys, day AOer day, with
cut fatigue"
pr. Thomson says the Indians under
his influence, work twenty ami thirty
hours without sleep. They travel on foot,
seventy leagues in three days, using very
little food, but chewing constantly the Coca,
which they carry in q pouch thrown over
the shoulder, together with bottle Of quick
lime.
Mr.. Maisch, in his article, relates the
fact that Tschudi employed an Indian for
excavations for FIVE successive days and
nights during which time he ate no food,
and slept but two hours in every twenty
four, and Immediately afterward travelled
sixty-nine English miles on foot, willing to
repeat the same hardships on condition of
being supplied with Coca During all this
time he merely chewed the leaves Of this
plant, and did not complain of fatigue.
An Indian in the employ of Schuzen
travelled two hundred and fifty miles in four
days, and after resting one day, repeated
the journey in five days. over o mountain
thirteen thousand feet in hight, partaking
of no food save Coca and some roasted
maize.
During the war of 1917, the Spaniards
subsisted almost entirely on Coca, retain
ing their vigor and preserving themselves
from starvation and annihilation. The
guides of Travellers by the use Of this plant,
are enabled to progress many miles after
their horses have become exhausted.
The dose of Coca, according to Mr..
Maisch, is one drachm, increased, in great
hardships and fatigue, to half an ounce, re-
newed every two or three hours. DR.. Mon
tegazza in one day, chewed two ounces and o
quarter Of Coca, and after three hours sleep,
required no food for forty hours, and dur
ing this time experienced no loss of vigor.
The Coca has no injurious effect on health
or life, save when used in excess, and then,
like all other excesses, it sooner or later
causes death.
If these statements be true, and they
seem to be very well authenticated the re-
commendation of the Reporter would appear
to be worthy of attention. Such an in
crease in vigor and the power of enduring
and resisting fatigue would amply repay
almost any cost.
The anual yield of Coca leaves is said to
be thirty millions of pounds. The con.
sumption amounts to one-third Of that
| amount
Armed with so powerful an invigorator
fifty thousand troops might march success.
fully against five times their number. The
strength of armies conld not then consist in
their numbers, and the battalions thai
chewed Coca would be assured of the helI
| of Providence.