2140 
2141 
2142 
2143 
(95) 
laceae—Coca Family). Native of the Andean region of South America 
and so long cultivated that it is no longer known in the wild state, except 
as an escape from cultivation. Grown in Bolivia. Presented by R. §. 
Williams. The habit of chewing these leaves is universal among the 
natives of the tableland and high mountain regions of the Andes. They 
contain the very powerful and highly poisonous alkaloid cocaine, as well 
as other alkaloids in small amounts. Cocaine has the power of deadening 
the sense of feeling in the parts to which it is applied, on which account it is 
largely used to prepare for minor surgical operations of a painful character. 
It also has a powerful stimulating effect upon the nerve centers, in many 
respects like that of the caffeine contained in tea and coffee. One of its 
effects is that of powerfully stimulating the breathing processes. ‘This is a 
very important effect in high regions, where the air is so rarified as to cause 
difficulty in securing the necessary amount of oxygen. It is because of 
this effect that the leaves are so extensively used in those regions. Every 
Indian carries a little bag filled with these leaves. Several times a day 
he resorts to their use, seating himself upon the ground and resting during 
the chewing period. It is the usual practice to mix with the leaves a 
small amount of ashes, called //ipta, made preferably by burning the leaves 
and stems of particular plants. It is probable that the salty nature of these 
ashes tends to heighten the flavor of the leaves while chewing. It is also 
probable that the alkaline nature of the ash tends to more perfectly free 
the alkaloid and heighten the nervous effects of chewing the leaves. 
. Truxillo Coca leaves.—The leaves of Erythroxylon truxillense Rusby. Native 
of Peru and largely cultivated. From the New York drug market. 
. Betel nuts, or Areca nuts.—The seed of Areca Catechu L. (Palmae—Palm 
Family). Native of the East Indies and cultivated. These leaves are 
generally chewed by the East Indian natives, mostly before being dried 
and preferably when still unripe. They contain a number of alkaloids, 
the principal one, arecoline, being a very powerful stimulant of the nervous 
system. 
. Betel leaves.—The leaves of Chavica Betel (L.) Miq. (Piperaceae—Pepper 
Family). Native of the East Indies and cultivated. These leaves possess 
a pungent or aromatic property and are usually chewed with the betel nut 
partly for their flavor, and partly because they impart a blood-red color to 
the saliva and give a permanent brownish tint to the teeth. 
. Cola nuts.—The cotyledons of the seeds of several species of Cola (Sterculia- 
ceae—Chocolate Family). Native of tropical Africa and cultivated. 
These seeds contain much caffeine and it is probably chiefly for the stimu- 
lating effect of this substance that they are chewed. ‘They are mostly 
used in the fresh state, and after undergoing the primary stage of germina- 
tion, which changes part of their starch into sugar, thus imparting to them 
an agreeable sweetish taste. 
2144. Fresh cola nuts. The preceding seeds in an undried condition. 
2145-2154 illustrate gum chicle, the chief basis of American chewing-gum. It is 
the inspissated milky juice of Sapota Achras Mill. (Sapotaceae—Sapota 
Family). Native of tropical American and cultivated in all tropical 
regions for its edible fruit, the sapodilla. Unless otherwise specified, 
