40 ERYTHROXYLON COCA 



without the addition of the Llipta which he regards as useless he 

 drew the following conclusions : " The chewing of coca removes 

 extreme fatigue, and prevents it. Hunger and thirst 

 pended ; but eventually appetite and digestion are unaffected. .\ , 

 injury whatever is sustained at the time or subsequently in 

 occasional trials ; but I can say nothing of what may or may not 

 happen if it be used habitually. From sixty to ninety grains are 

 sufficient for one trial ; but some persons either require more, or 

 are constitutionally proof against its restorative action. It has no 

 effect on the mental faculties, so far as my own observations go, 

 except liberating them from the dulness and drowsiness which follow 

 great bodily fatigue. I do not yet know its effect on mental 

 fatigue purely. As to the several functions, it reduces the effect 

 of severe protracted exercise in accelerating the pulse. It increases 

 the saliva, which, however, may be no more than the effect of 

 mastication. It does not diminish the perspiration so far as I can 

 judge. It probably lessens the hourly secretion of urine solids." 

 Christison made no trials of its influence on disease orthe conse- 

 quences of disease. It has been stated that the success of Weston 

 as a pedestrian was due to his chewing coca, but in a letter to the 

 ' Lancet ' he states that he found it rather lessened than increased 

 his strength ; in fact, it acted as an opiate and forced him to sleep. 

 Since the publication of the above results by Christison a series 

 of most carefully conducted experimental observations on the 

 properties and action of coca has been made by Mr. Dowdeswell in 

 the Physiological Laboratory of University College, London. The 

 results of these various trials are published by the author in the 

 ' Lancet ' for May 6th, 1876, and are thus summarised by himself : 

 " These results, as far as they go, are negative, as many most 

 competent to judge concluded that they would be ; but contrary 

 to the expectations of the writer, formed from published state- 

 ments. It has been taken in all forms, solid and liquid, hot and 

 cold, at all hours from 7 o'clock in the morning till 1 or 2 o'clock 

 at night, fasting and after eating. In the course of a month 

 nearly one pound of the leaves altogether has been consumed, but 

 without producing any decided effect ; it has not affected the 



