Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-03-05
COCA AND COCAINE.

ties, called coca (Erythroxylon coca) The
special narcotic properties of this plant re-
side in its leaves and are extracted by the ma
tives through a similar process to that Of to.
bacco, namely, 10y chewing. The refreshing,
soothing and comforting effect Of coca is to
the Peruvian Indian the source Of his great
est enjoyment and delight 1t il to him
what the betel is to the Hinduo, hasheesh to
the Arab, kava to the South SEA islander aud
tobacco and opium to the rest OF mankind.
Coca is indigenous to the tropical valleys
which occur on the eastern slope of the
Andes, and still may be found growing wild
in many parts Of Peru aud Bolivia, though
that which is known to commerce and tia,
which is used by the natives is chi, fly tue
product of cultivation. In the inhabited
parts Of the valleys It forms an important az
ricututal crop.
The coca plant is raised from seed il nur
sery beds, and when Of suitable size il plant
ed out in regularly arranged coca plantations
When full grown il IL a shrub from five to
eight feet in height coming to maturity in
about three years from planting, and when
well cared for aud abundantly irrigated
yields three or four crops Of leaves year.
the leaves are about the tize OF those Of a
cherry tree, though little thicker, and when
ripe enough to bresk upon being bent are
gathered by women aud children and dried
During the curing process the leaves emit an
agreeable odor like that from new mown hay,
which contains more or less millet or sweet
scented vernal grass. The taste of coca
leaves il not unpleasant, it being slightly bit
ter aud aromatic and somewhat resembles
that OF green tea of poor quality. 1t is made
more piquant aud agreeable when a small
amount OF alkali, either quick lime or some
form OF potash, Is used with it, The Iudi-
ans either lime or ashes.
SO extensive was tue use Of this plant, and
so common the demand for it at the tune the
Spanish conquerors overcame the native
races Of the hill country OF Peru, that it
formed the usual money or medium OF ex-
change, as tobacco does nov among some of
the tribes of southwestern Africa.
After the introduction OF gold and silver
money it became the principal article Of traf-
ic aud it's cultivation WAS under the special
care OF the native government during the
reign Of the lucas. Tue beloved coca leaf is
still to the Indian Of the mountains the de
light, the support aud IN some measure the
necessity, of his life. He is never seen with
out his lesthern pouch to contain bis coca
leaves and his little gourd bottle to hold pow
dered, unslacked lime or ashes. No Teuton
or Celt ever contemplated his evening smoke,
or Englishman his tankard OF ale, or Yankee
woman her cup of "Old Hyson" with more
Peru his acullcar or chew of coca.
According to Weddell, whose travels have
been quite extensive in that country, "the
devotee to III $ narcotic, before partaking of
it, makes himself as comfortable es circum-
stances will permit. He lays his burden
down, il be has one he seats himself, and
putting his chuspa between his knees, pulls
out one by one the leaves which are to form
his new ball or quil. The satisfaction with
which be contemplates full chusps, and the
regret which his countenAnce expresses when
be sees it empty, prove that to the Indian the
custom of using the coca is a source of real
happiness. Always three or four times a day
be suspends work or pauses in his journey
TO chew his beloved leaf. The usual period
devoted to this enjoyment is from fifteen
minutes to half an hour, aud owners OF plan
tations and others employing Indians find it
to their interest TO allow the Indian three or
more such periods during each day, and any
employer who undertakes to restrict or de-
prive the native of his chaccar, as it is called,
will soon find his lAborers on q strike"
The coca leaf acts differently, according to
the way il is used. When stepped aud drank
like tea, it produces a gentle excitement and
wakefulness, aud in stronger doses it sus-
pends the natural waste of the system, en-.
abling the person to perform an unusual
amount of labor with little food or sleep; it
dilates the pupil and renders the eye intoler-
ant OF light
The habit OF using this peculiar narcotic
is generally supposed to be confined to the
aborignes Of the Andes, but the agreeable
and seductive effects are shared by many
white Peruvians, and even Europeans in ma
ny parts of the country have fallen victim 3
to its use. Young men of the best family in
| the province often become so much controlled
| hv ha habit At n grattfy THAR Fnr
its use, they forsake cities aud homes and the
comforts of civilized life, aud betake them.
selves to the mountains, living in the woods
or with the Indians, as entirely irreclaimable
as the abandoned opium eater or the con
frmed drunkard. But these are extreme
cases, and are comparatively rare when we
| take into account the great number who
are constantly using the drug, and those cases
occur most frequently in the non tropical
portions OF the country, the mountainous re-
gions and places OF high altitude being com
parstively exempt from such cases.
From all the facts gathered from intelli-
gent sources, the deleterious effects of this
narcotic are not more marked or more pro-
ductive Of morbid Effects perhaps than are
those OF tobacco.
Besides being a mild narcotic, coca leaves
possess the remarkable property of suspend
ing the natural waste of the system, thus in.
directly sustaining the strength through long
periods of exeTtion with very little food OI
rest, and it seems also to prevent the occur,
renee of that difficulty of respiration which
is usually experienced in climbing the steeI
slopes of high mountains. Some few per
sons, distinguished for their familiarity with
the specific effects of this drug, recommend
the use of coca leaves in the place of tea and
coffee, particularly for workmen whose du
ties require long and severe muscular exer
tion. A few experiments in this direction
have recently been tried in this country, bu
with Indifferent success, owing, probably tC
the deteriorated condition of the leaf through
its long exposure during it's sea voyage, ol
from adulterstion. A manufacturing hous'
in Pittsburgh has undertaken to Introduce
coca chewing and smoking by preparing tn,
leaf in plugs and cheroots.
The chemical properties of this remarka
BILE plant have been little known until quite
recent date, when through the scientific in
vestigations of some of our most enterpris
ing manufacturing chemists it has been founC
to contain a volatile, bitter principle, whicl
is capable OF being orystallized, and in which
resides not only the properties alluded to
but another still more remarkable, namely
that Of producing complete local an@sthesi
when applied TO certain parts of the body
This active principle is named cocaine, AM
| Ou hOSOuuN VI It's boluk piNPhlSu pg tho az
ton of hydrocholric acid it is ehemicall
known as cocaine hydrochlorate.
The success attending the experiment
thus far with this narcotic has been such a
to place it in the front rank Of apm thetic
for limited local effects, and bids fair to rev
olutionize the use of anesthetics in man
surgical operations.
1t is rarely the case that a new remed
so soon secures general recognition by tn
medical profession, aud pushes itself to tn
front and into general use az has this. Scarce
ly is there Issued a number Of any medioa
journal of any school in the country tina
does not contain articles oOmmending it's use
or reports of surgical cases of painful chal
aoter, that have been successfully treated b,
the aid of this new aneithetio. In a
affections Of the eye requiring surgical opel
atons, or for the removal of foreign bodies
cocaine has proved Of inestimable value, as o
3 the introduction of drop or two of pt
cent solution, all sensibility ia completed
= destroyed, aud any operation on the orga
/ may be performed without giving the leal
/ pain. The writer Witnessed q case shOl
! time since where a cinder in the eye ha
caused great Inflammation aud suffering
I with extreme intolerance Of light. After or
0 or two drops OF solution Of cocaine ha
been introduced aud allowed TO Femain fe