BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 179 
prominent; taste bitter; odor somewhat like the 
inferior qualities of tea. Coca leaves contain 
gum, resin, bitter extractive matter, volatile oil 
and the active principle cocaine. The leaves 
are about the size of the common tea leaf; they 
are said to contain also /annin, in form of ccca- 
tannic acid. In its effects coca is a stimulant 
and excitant; wonderful accounts are given of 
its power to support the human body under great 
fatigue. The leaves are chewed by the natives 
of South America for this purpose, and also to 
allay hunger. Dose of the leaves, 30 grains to 
1 drachm, given in form of an infusion. The 
only officinal preparation is the fluid extract, 
the dose of which is % to1 fluiddrachm. Con- 
stituents, according to the most recent analysis, 
are cocaine, benzoylecgorine, cinnamylcocaine hy-~ 
grine, wax and cocatannic acid. The alkaloid 
cocaine is used as a local anesthetic for minor 
surgery with good effect; also given in doses of 
¥% to \% grain, which have all the effects of the. 
leaf. It is a dangerous remedy, however, pro- 
ducing delirium and madness in large or contin- 
ued doses. - ae 
Hepatica, Liverwort, Hepatica Triloba.— 
Natural order Ranunculaceze, This small plant 
is a native of the North American Continent, 
and is adorned with dark leaves of a leathery 
nature, having three lobes, kidney or heart- 
shaped in their general outlines. They are 
usually about two inches long, from base to 
apex; they have little or no odor when dry, but 
a bitter, astringent taste. The leaves of the 
Hepatica contain sugar, mucilage and some 
tannin. 'The flowers are bluish-white, or pur- 
