Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-06
A NEW NARCOTIC.
Coca. a Wonderful South American
Plaintiffs Remarkable
Properties.
New Orleans Picayuue.1


rnai-cairiers, travelling on foot and bearing
upon their shoulders heavy bags Of mail, will
scale the mighty mountain range of the An
les, crossing through passes IT, 600 feet above
the sea level, where, even under the vertical
sun of the equator, perpetual snow abides,
sustained in these labors by meagre diet Of
parched corn, and stimulated by the potent
coca leaf The laborer who, in the absence
of steam engines and other hosting ma
chinery, climbs tortuous and trembling
ladders from the depth of thousand
fathoIns in the Peruvian silver mines,
bearing upon his back a leathern bag Of
the precious orc, is ensbled daily to endure
this tremendous exertion through the bracing
influence Of coca. These matters, incredible
rs they may seem, ere certified tn as facts by
the most trustworthy witnesses The schedule
time for foot-mail carriers across the noun
tains in Bolivia, from Chuquisaca to La PEG,
distance of seventy leagues, 2lO miles, 10
three days, or seventy miles day, and These
carriers live chiefly on parched corn, seldom
tasting meat, but chewing about three ounces
of coca leaf a day. In the high attitudes,
where travellers suffer with difficulty Of
breathing, and frequently with rushes Of
blood from the mouth and nose, the consum.
eIS VI GUN eAtoEie1lCo uO SoII VI mCOuVeu-
fence, but perform their labors with accus.
toned activity.
That plant which is possessed Of such re-
1narkable properties should I've 50 little known
beyond it's own proper habitat is quite curioue
in this age Of travel and discovery, and it in
dnced some consideration and inquiry on the
part of a reporter. Meeting with DR.. Her.
rick secretary Of the board Of health, yester-
L., 49, II
the matter.
Said the doctor in substance: Coca is now
coming into use by the medical profession in
this city.
In reply to an inquiry as to the purposes
for which this medicine was administered
here, the doctor said that it has specific and
powerful effects on the nervous system. It is
tonic and stimulant without any apparent
injurious reaction. When the nervous sys
tenn has been broker down by alcohol, OPT
ates, and the like, it has been recommended,
and, combined with phosphates, it has been
prescribed to counteract the waste of tho
lody which is seen in pulmonary consump.'
tiopaud other diseases which have to be met
by some system Of nutrition. 1t is very prob
able that this drug might be used to advan-
tage by professional pedestrians and others
engaged in exhanstinS and prolonged phys
ical labors
Under the direction Of the doctor the 10
porter visited a druggist near the Poydras
market, who imports the article in its purest
and most reliable form; that is, the freshly
dried leaves.
Said the druggist reaching down from a
shelf a metallic can, closely sealed: ''The
coca, like the tea, must he transported and
kept in ar tight and water-tisht packages
Exposed to the air and to moisture, it not
only loses its aroma AMI flavor, but is chem
ically alt red, and thereby rendered inert and
useless. You will observe" he continued, q
he opened the package ami pulled out some
greenish dried leaves, they have much the
odor of English breakfast tea, and except
that the leaves are not cuiled or crumple<l,
they are not unlike those of the tea plant.
The first coca leaves brought here were i'll
bags, but they were worthless; and now that
they are packed in th,S, canisters the leaves
arrive here endowed with all their proper
virtues.
"As tonic for persons who are suffering
from alcoholism or the opium habit, it is
an admirable remedy. 1t not only re-
lieves the nervous depression under
which they suffer- but enables them
to break off from their dangerous stimu-
lants by off ring them one which seems to
have no bad properties. Coca seems to brace
up ti1e nerves without producing the exciting
stimulation and the consequent depressing
reaction that accompany the nse Of other
narcotics. In combination with certain
remedies it has been of great benefit to con
sunr1nive patients also.
Have you any habitual customers for the
drug who Use it as regular stimulantf"
asfel the porter.
Yes The first was gentleman who had
learned to use it while living in Brazil. As
room us he found he could get it here he has
been buying it regularly, AMI says he never
experienced any injurious effects from it.
Other persons, among them several Journal
lists who learned the use of the coca from the
FIRST named party, also purchase it regularly
and declare that while it braces them up for
night work it produces no bad effects,
Coca is an interesting study, not only to the
medical scientists but to the political philoS-
opher, for it enables millions Of people to do
their daily work on n deficient food supply
without suffering the pangs Of hunger. Ar
ON cconomzcr of food it occupies a unique
position.