COCAINE HYDROOHLOEIDE 431 



SECTION IV.— DEUGS ACTING ON THE 

 SENSOET NEEVES. 



Class 1. — Depressing: the Sensory Nerves. 



CocAiNiE Hydkochlobidum. Cocaine Hydrochloride.* 

 C„ H,, N O, H 01. (U. S. & B. P.) 



The hydrochloride of an alkaloid obtained from coca 

 (or cuca) leaves. These are derived from the Erythroxylon 

 coca Lamarck (nat. ord. Lineae). Cultivated in Peru and 

 Bolivia and introduced into medicine by KoUer in 1884. 



Derivation. — Cocaine hydrochloride is recovered by 

 agitating an acidulated alcoholic solution of coca leaves with 

 ether. The ethereal liquid is made alkaline with sodium 

 carbonate and evaporated. The residue is purified, decolor- 

 ized, neutralized with hydrochloric acid, and finally crystal- 

 lized. 



Description. — Colorless, transparent crystals, or a white, 

 crystalline powder ; without odor ; of a saline, slightly bitter 

 taste, and prodiicing upon the tongue a tingling sensation, 

 followed by numbness of some minutes' duration. Perma- 

 nent in the air. Soluble in 0.4 part of water, and in 2.(j 

 parts of alcohol ; very soluble in boiling water and in boiling 

 alcohol ; also soluble in 2,800 parts of ethel", or in 17 parts 

 of chloroform. The prolonged application of heat to the 

 salt, or to its solution, induces decomposition. The salt is 

 neutral to litmus paper. 



Dose.—H.., gr.v,-x. (.3-.6); D., gr.M (.008-.045). 



Action External. — Solutions of cocaine (4-10 per cent.), 

 applied to mucous membranes, produce perfect local anaes- 

 thesia by paralyzing the sensory nerve endings. The 

 functions of the nerves of special sense are abolished before 

 those of ordinary sensibility. Stronger solutions paralyze 

 the motor nerve terminations. The local application of 

 cocaine causes pallor of the mucous membrane, which is 

 succeeded by redness and congestion. The first condition 



* These are also oiHcial : 



Oleatum Cocaina, (5 per cent.) TJ. S. P. 

 Unguentum Coeainm (4 per cent.) . B. P. 

 Iiijectio CocainoB. Hypodermica (10 per cent.) B. P. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



