no cocA._ 



When the Spaniards came to Pe-ru in the sixteenth 

 century' thc\' found ^•et another stimulant in use tliere, 

 which the instinct of tlie natives had discovered — 

 namel\- Cocain. This ]3rinci])le belonsrs, as do Caffein 

 and Theobromin, to the vegetable alkaloids. The Incas 

 used to chew Coca leaves in the same wa\' as the 

 Hindoos masticate the Betel nuts, and flavoured these 

 lea\'es with ashes of the Quinoa plant (Chcnopodiiim 

 Qiiiiioa), or with slaked lime, as is done with Betel nuts 

 in India. In moderation Coca leaves stimulate the 

 ner^■ous s\stem ; but when used to excess they become 

 injurious. Deterioration of the ph\'sical and mental 

 powers sets in and the "Cocquero" ma^' be likened to 

 our inebriate. The Spaniards at first saw onh' the evil 

 effects of Coca chewing and sought to counteract it by 

 legislation and ecclesiastical prohibition. For this reason 

 the Coca leaves were not introduced into Europe as 

 were other similar stimulants. Public attention was first 

 directed to this alkaloid when KoUer of \'ienna disco\'ered 

 in 18S4 that a solution of Cocain rendered the cornea 

 and the conjuncti\'a of the e\e insensible to touch for 

 some time without injurious effects. Its use in operations 

 on the eye is now uni^'ersal; and when its power of 

 rendering easih' accessible and sensitive ner\'es of the 

 hinnan body insensible were recognised, it became 

 important in other branches of medicine. 



Coca leaves are obtained from a. bush which is ver^- 

 like (jur sloe onh' considerabh' larger. The\' are a vi\'id 

 green, very thin, elliptical and terminate in a ver^' fine 

 point. The )'ellowish-white flowers are not striking 



