1857.] The Narcotics — Their Chemical Constituents. 349 



diet and tte miasma arising from tlic marsty country. It is also 

 used to rouse persons wlio are under the influence of opium, just as 

 tea restores a person wlien , under the influence of spirituous liquors. 

 The only knowledge which we have of it, is an extract of the nut, 

 called catechu, better known under the name of Terra Japonica. It 

 is strongly astringent, yielding more tannic acid than any other 

 known substance, and to this is to be ascribed its good efi"ects upon 

 the system in those warm climates. But besides this, there are some 

 undiscovered narcotic ingredients which imparts to it its intoxicating 

 qualities. 



We nov consider the Cocas, which in its effects is, as yet, 

 an enigma to chemists. It is used chiefly in Bolivia and Peru, 

 and forms an important crop to the cultivators of the soil. Its 

 use has been handed down from generation to generation, until its 

 origin is lost in the remote ages of antiquity. It is as indispen- 

 sable to the Indians of the countries mentioned as bread is to us. 

 The times of its enjoyment are fixed as regularly as are his meals, 

 and when under its influence he is absolutely immovable; no per- 

 suasion or entreaty, no danger, not the thunder storm which threat- 

 ens to drown him, not the appearance of wild beasts, nor fire threat- 

 ening to consume him in his retreat, is capable of arousing him 

 from his apathy. The user of the leaf becomes gloomy and silent, 

 often retiring for days together to the woods, there to indulge his 

 unconquerable desire for it to an unlimited extent. It resembles 

 opium more nearly than any other of the narcotics, both in the 

 desire for solitude which it produces, and the power it gives of 

 enduring fatigue for an extraordinary length of time ; it enables the 

 Indian to live almost without food for days together. This, however, 

 is an exaggeration ; its effect is to enable the body to feed upon 

 itself, for a greater length of time, without the hunger pains and 

 weakness which usually accompany a prolonged abstinence from food. 

 The chemistry of the leaf is still obscure, as is that of most of the 

 narcotics in general use throughout the world. We must be con- 

 tent to remain in ignorance, until at some future time they shall be 

 made to disclose their secrets to the search of science. 



We have now reached the end of the catalogue of the principal 

 narcotics in use, but many others there are, all of which exert an 

 influence peculiar to themselves and are more or less employed by 

 man. Of these are the root of the Ava pepper, the seeds of a spe- 

 cies of Cardamuns, grown in Guinea and upon the African coast 



