The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-02-16
A NEW NARCOTIC.
Coca, 9 Wonderful South American
Plant-..Its Remarkable
Properties.
New Orleans Picayune.l

New Orleans Picayune.l
Humboldt aud other travellers tell how the
mail-carriers, travelling on foot and bearing
upon their shoulders heavy bags of mail viii
scale the mighty mountain range OF the An
des, crossing through passes 16, 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 hoisting ma
chinery, climbs tortuous and trembling
ladders from the depth of q thousand
fathoms in the Peruvian silver mines,
bearing upon his back a leathean bag OF
the precious ore, is enabled daily to endure
this tremendous exertion through the bracinp
influence of coca. These matters, incredible
as they may seem, are certified to 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, 80 miles, Is
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 day. In the high attitudes,
where travellers suffer with difficulty Of
breathing, and frequently with rushes Of
blood from the mouth and nose, tho ccnsum
ers Of coca experience no sort OF inconven.
fence, but perform their labors with accus-
toned activity.
That plant which is possessed OF such TO
markable properties should be SO little known
beyond its own proper habitat Is quite curious
in this age of travel and discovery, and it In
duced some consideration and inquiry on the
part of reporter. Meeting with DR.. Her
rick, secretary of the board of health, yester.
day, the reporter questioned him concerning
| 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 broken 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 the
body which is seen in pulmonary consump.
ton and other diseases which have to be met
| by some system of nutrition. Il is very prob
able that this drug might be used to advan-
tage by professional pedestrians and others
engaged in exhausting and prolonged phys.
ical labors.
Under the direction of the doctor the re-
porter visited druggist near the Poydras
market, who imports the article in its purest
and most reliable form; that is, the freshly
dried leaves.
Sud the druggist, reaching down from a
shelf a metallic can, closely sealed: "Tha
coca, like the tea. must be transported and
kept in air-tight and water-tight packages.
Exposed to the air and to moisture, it not
only loses its aroma and flavor, but is chem
ically altered and thereby rendered inert and
useless. You will observe" he continued as
he opened the package and pulled out some
greenish dried leaves, s'they have much the
odor of English breakfast tea, and except
that the leaves are not curled or crumpled,
they are not unlike those of the tea plant.
The first coca leaves brought here were in
bagu, but they were worthless; and now that
they are packed in these canisters the leaves
arrive here endowed with all their proper
virtues.
Gas a tonic for persons who are suffering
from alcoholism or the opium habit, it is
an. admirable remedy. It not only re-
iSves the nervous depression under
which they suffer, but enables then,
to break off from their dangerous stimu-
lants by offering them one which seems to
have no bad properties Coca seems to brace
up the nerves without producing the exciting
stimulation and the consequent depressing
reaction that accompany the use Of other
narcotics. In combination with certain
remedies it has been of great benefit to con
sumptive patients also.
Have you any habitual customers for the
drug who use it as regular stimulant9
asked the reporter.
Eyes. The first was a gentleman who had
J learned to use it while living in Brazil As
SION as he found he could get it here be has
been buying it regularly, and says he never
/ experienced any injurious effects from it,
: Other persons, among them several Journals
, lists who learned the use of the coca from the
tirst-named party, also purchase it regularly
: and declare that while it braces them up for
night work it produces no bad effects y
r Coca is an interesting study, not only 70 the
medical scientists, but to the political philos'
} opher, for it enables millions of people to dc
. their daily work on deficient food supply
} without suffering the pangs of hunger. As
> an economizer of food it occupies unique
= DoSifion