Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-07-16
Coca -What is Cocaine?

The discovery that Cocaine will produce
local angsthesia, or insensibility TO pain, is
next in importance to the discovery of the
properties Of ether. Cocaine has of late
been used in important operations upon the
eye; this, and especially its recent employ
ment to allay the pain in the terrible disease
under which the illustrous patient, General
Grant has suffered so long, have given it
unusual prominence. To meet the popular
desire TO know something of this agent, We
give an account of the plant from which
Cocaine is derived The earliest European
travellers in Peru, mention the use, by the
natives, of a leaf, which they chewed TO
produce stimulating effect, similar to that
of opium. The leaves, known as Coca, are
from a shrub which bears the same native
name and is cultivated in Husnuco, and
other mountainous provinces in the Peruvian
Andes, which have an altitude Of two to five
thousand feet above the sea. The shrub
reaches the height of six or eight feet, and
has very thick, evergreen leaves. The name
ofthe genus is E1Wlrorylon, which means
red wood several Of the species, natives of
tropical countries. having wood of red
color The specific name OF the Peruvian
species, is that given to it by the natives,
hence its scientific name is Erytlrorylon
coca. It. it, relationship the shrub is near
est 70 the fax and the geranium families.
The shrub is cultivated in rude manner
BY the natives, who raise the young plants
from the seeds, to form plantations known
as Cocals In from three 10 FIVE years from
planting. the shrubs afford a gathering Of
leaves. and after that a picking is made
annually The leaves are mature when they
break on being bent. They are dried on
platforms. or on portion of ground made
smooth by stamping The leaves when dry,
are packed in bales Of abou, eighty. pounds,
which are covered by coarse cloth made by
the natives Ia this form it is an important
article Of domestic traffic in Peru. and re-
Gently it has been sent To this country and
to Europe in considerable quantities. The
wholesale value Of the caves j, from one
dollar. to one dollar and fifty cents per
pound. In Peru, the use OF Coca is yer,
general, especially among the natives. The
leaves. mixed with lime, are chewed ami
the saliva swallowed. the individual remain
ing quiet the while. rs the enjoyment OF
tile Coca occurs four times each day, and
each time requires a, least half an hour, 1t
causes no little interruption TO work and
to travel. The effects Of Coca are said to
be most pleasurably intoxicating, and thoSs
who become addicted to is use, rarely
abandon il. 1t is claimed tina, by the use Of
Coca. the Peruvians can perform great
amount Of abor in the mines. and as porter'
in carving loads upon very li,tIe food. The
active principle. Cocaine mot "Cocoaiue,
as sometimes incorrectly wrt'enl. has been
separated. The process, is expensive and
the product small, hence the price has been
very high. the salts Of Cocaine having been
sod a, over a dollar a grain. In view OF
the probable increased 1emsnd for Coca, il
would be proper for our Department Of
Agriculture to consider the possibility Of
successfully cul;iya,ing the shrub within
our own territory meric1H Ayricu''Wj1.