524 COCAINE 



prepared by agitating an acidulated alcoholic extract with 

 ether. It occurs in colourless prisms, almost insoluble in 

 water, insoluble in glycerin, soluble in ten parts rectified 

 spirit, and in twelve of olive oil. The hydroehloride, in 

 colourless acicular crystals, or crystalline powder, is readily 

 soluble in water, alcohol, and glycerin. It is insoluble in olive 

 oil, and nearly insoluble in ether. Its watery solution has 

 a bitter taste, producing on the tongue a sensation of ting- 

 ling, followed by numbness, and when applied to the eye 

 dilates the pupil. It gives a yellow precipitate with gold 

 chloride, and a white precipitate with ammonium carbonate, 

 soluble in excess of the re-agent. Cocaine is associated 

 in the plant with coca-tannic acid, and with several other 

 alkaloids, amongst which are cocamine and cinnamyl-cocaine 

 and a volatile constituent which gives aromatic fragrance 

 to the fresh leaves. All these alkaloids contain a pyridine 

 derivative known as ecgonine, and in cocaine this is 

 combined with benzoic acid and methyl alcohol. Many 

 artificial cocaine substitutes have been produced, all 

 containing the ecgonine molecule. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Cocaine paralyses the sensory nerves 

 with which it comes in contact, and is thus a local anaes- 

 thetic. It is also antiseptic. Small to moderate doses 

 stimulate the central nervous system, are tonic, and diminish 

 metabolism. The South American Indians, on long marches, 

 not only chew coca leaves, but give them to their horses, 

 with the effect of diminishing thirst, hunger, and sense 

 of fatigue. Although topically anaesthetic and anodyne, 

 large doses, swallowed or injected subcutaneously, exert 

 this central stimulant effect, causing excitement, restless- 

 ness, increased reflex irritability, and then tonic or clonic 

 convulsions. Subsequently they paralyse the nerve-centres, 

 impair co-ordination, causing aimless gyrating move- 

 ments, muscular spasms, and death from respiratory 

 failure. 



GENERAL ACTIONS. Solutions of 4 to 10 per cent., applied 

 to a mucous surface, within one minute cause pallor and 

 vascular contraction. After two or three minutes the 

 endings of the sensory nerves are paralysed, so producing 

 local anaesthesia lasting ten minutes. A few drops of a 



