Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-05-28
Coca What is Cocaine?

The discovery that Cocaine will pro-
duce local an@thssia, or insensibility to
pain, Is next in Importance to the dis
cOvsry of the properties OF ether. Co
caine has of late been used in important
operations upon the eye; this and espec-
tally its recent employment to allay the
pain in the terrible disease under which
the illustriOus patient, General Grant,
has suffered 80 lOng, have given 1t unus-
al 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 leaf, which they
chewed to produce stimulating effect,
similar to opium. The leaves, known
as Coca are from shrub which bears
the same native name, and is cultivated
in HuanucO, and other mountainous
provinces Ia the Peruvian Andes, which
have an altitude of two to five thousand
feet above the sea. The shrub reaches
the hight of six or eight feet. and has
very thick, evergreen leaves. The name
of the genus is E1ythrOrylOn, which
means redwood; 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 ErythrOrylon coca. In its rela-
tiOnship the shrab il nearest to the fax
and geranium families. The shrub is
cultivated in rude manner by the ma
tiYss, who raise the young plants from
the seeds, to form plantations known as
COcals. In from three to five years from
planting, the shrubs afford gathering
| of leaves, and after that picking il
made annually. The lsayss are mature
when they break Oh being bent. They
are dried Oh platforms, or on IA portion
of ground made smooth by stamping
The leaves when dry, are packed In bales
of about eighty pounds, which are cover
ed by a coarse cloth made by the natives
In this form it is an important article
of domestic traffic in Peru, and recently
il has been sent to this country and tt
Europe in considerable quantities. The
wholesale value Of the leaves is from one
dollar, to one dollar and fifty cents pei
pound. In Peru, the use of Coca is very
general, especially among the natives
The leaves, mixed with lime. are chews(
and the saliva swallowed, the individual
remaining quiet the while. As the en-
joyment of the Coca occurs four time
each day, and each time REQUIRES a
least half an hour it causes no little in
terruption to work and to travel. Tn
effects of Coca are said to DO most pleas
urably intoxicating, and those who be
come addicted to its use rarely abandon
it. 1t is claimed that by the use of COe
the PRruvians can perform grea
amount of labor in the mines, and a
pOrters in carrying loads, upon very lii
tie food. The active principle, COcain
mot "COcoaine," as sometimes incorrect
ly written). has been separated. Tn
process il expensive and the prOduc
small, hence the price has been yer
high. the salts Of Cocaine having bee
sold at over dollar grain. In vie,
of the probable increased demand 70
Coca, it would be proper for our Depart
ment of Agriculture to consider the POI
sibility of successfully cultivating tn
\ shrub Within our own territOry.-An,el
ican A9ricultu1ist for jane.