(95) 



laceae — Coca Family). Native of the Andean region of South America 

 and so long cultivated that it is no longer known in the wild state, ^xcept 

 as an escape from cultivation. Grown in Bolivia. Presented by R. S. 

 Williams. The habit of chewing these leaves is universal among the 

 natives of the tableland and high mountain regions of the Andes. They 

 contain the very powerful and highly poisonous alkaloid cocaine, as well 

 as other alkaloids in small amounts. Cocaine has the power of deadening 

 the sense of feeling in the parts to which it is applied, on which account it is 

 largely used to prepare for minor surgical operations of a painful character. 

 It also has a powerful stimulating effect upon the nerve centers, in many 

 respects like that of the caffeine contained in tea and coffee. One of its 

 effects is that of powerfully stimulating the breathing processes. This is a 

 very important effect in high regions, where the air is so rarified as to cause 

 difficulty in securing the necessary amount of oxygen. It is because of 

 this effect that the leaves are so extensively used in those regions. Every 

 Indian carries a little bag filled with these leaves. Several times a day 

 he resorts to their use, seating himself upon the ground and resting during 

 the chewing period. It is the usual practice to mix with the leaves a 

 small amount of ashes, called llipta, made preferably by burning the leaves 

 and stems of particular plants. It is probable that the salty nature of these 

 ashes tends to heighten the flavor of the leaves while chewing. It is also 

 probable that the alkaline nature of the ash tends to more perfectly free 

 the alkaloid and heighten the nervous effects of chewing the leaves. 



2140. Truxillo Coca leaves. — The leaves of Eryihroxylon Iruxillense Rusby. Native 



of Peru and largely cultivated. From the New York drug market. 



2141. Betel nuts, or Areca nuts. — The seed of Areca Catechu L. (Palmae — Palm 



Family). Native of the East Indies and cultivated. These leaves are 

 generally chewed by the East Indian natives, mostly before being dried 

 and preferably when still unripe. They contain a number of alkaloids, 

 the principal one, arecoline, being a very powerful stimulant of the nervous 

 system. 



2142. Betel leaves. — The leaves of Chavica Betel (L.) Miq. (Piperaceae — Pepper 



Family). Native of the East Indies and cultivated. These leaves possess 

 a pungent or aromatic property and are usually chewed with the betel nut 

 partly for their flavor, and partly because they impart a blood-red color to 

 the saliva and give a permanent brownish tint to the teeth. 



2143. Cola nuts. — The cotyledons of the seeds of several species of Cola (Sterculia- 



ceae — Chocolate Family). Native of tropical Africa and cultivated. 

 These seeds contain much caffeine and it is probably chiefly for the stimu- 

 lating effect of this substance that they are chewed. They are mostly 

 used in the fresh state, and after undergoing the primary stage of germina- 

 tion, which changes part of their starch into sugar, thus imparting to them 

 an agreeable sweetish taste. 



2144. Fresh cola nuts. The preceding seeds in an undried condition. 



2145 -2154 illustrate gum chicle, the chief basis of American chewing-gum. It is 

 the inspissated milky juice of Sapota Achras Mill. (Sapotaceae — Sapota 

 Family). Native of tropical American and cultivated in all tropical 

 regions for its edible fruit, the sapodilla. Unless otherwise specified, 



