Botanic Remedies 135 



finally spasm, with rapid breathing and convul- 

 sions in fatal cases of poisoning. These phenomena 

 are due to stimulation followed by depression of 

 the central nervous system. In some individuals the 

 initial stimulation is transitory. Cocaine causes 

 vaso-constriction. Injected locally it paralyzes 

 temporarily the sensory nerve-ends, the action being 

 direct. Little effect is noted upon the unbroken 

 skin except when the drug is incorporated with a 

 fatty base. The senses of taste and smell are 

 blunted when the drug is applied in the mouth and 

 nose. In the eye cocaine produces local anesthesia, 

 constriction of the vessels, and, finally, dilatation 

 of the pupil, but to a less degree than does atropine. 

 Injected into the spinal theca, cocaine causes nerve- 

 blocking and widespread anesthesia. 



THERAPEUTICS. Coca, by stimulating the motor 

 cortex and diminishing certain sensations, as of 

 fatigue and hunger, seems to act as a tonic; but 

 there is practically no justification for its use in 

 this direction. The so-called "tonic wines" con- 

 taining it should be banished from therapeutics. 

 The "average dose" of the fl. is 30 minims, and there 

 are a few cases of reflex vomiting, as aggravated 

 vomiting in pregnancy, in which it may be used, 

 though Cycloform is safer. Don't forget that coca 

 and cocaine are habit-inducing drugs. 



The use as a local anesthetic has been extended so 

 that now elaborated technic has developed, taking 

 extended chapters in surgical and special works to 

 outline them. It would be unwise to attempt to 

 cover that surgical subject in brief compass here; 

 so the reader is referred to special works. An 

 admirable book upon the subject is that of Hertzler, 



