THE TECHNOLOGIST. [May 1, 1865. 



4b« ON THE USE OF COCA LEAVES. 



&c., have pronounced very favourably as to the effect of chewing them. 

 It has been proved that they show in flavour as well as in taste some 

 analogy to the inferior kinds of tea. At the same time, they are some- 

 what bitter-aromatic, not inconsiderably exciting the secretion of saliva. 

 \ But Von Tschudi and Dr. Scherzer give the most remarkable accounts 

 of the stimulating effects of the coca. 



The former informs us that, during his stay in Peru, he employed an 

 Indian in some very fatiguing digging, for five days and five nights, and 

 that this man did not partake of any food during the whole time, and 

 rested even only two hours in the night ; but he constantly chewed 

 coca leaves, consuming an ounce in every two or three hours. After the 

 work was done, the same individual accompanied Von Tschudi during 

 a ride of twenty-three legnas (sixty-three English miles) over elevated 

 plains, keeping pace with his mule, and taking only a short rest for his 

 " Chacchar " (coca-chewing). After all these hardships, he was quite 

 willing to go through them again, without eating anything, provided he 

 had plenty of coca. 



A similar case is reported by Dr. Scherzer (who accompanied the 

 Novara expedition), where an Indian accomplished a journey of 83 

 leguas (243 English miles), from La Paz to Tama, in four days. After 

 resting for one day, he set out for his return, on which he was obliged 

 to pass a mountain of 13,000 feet in height. He actually returned 

 on the fifth day, and during the whole journey there and back 

 he had only taken a little roasted maize and plenty of coca. Those 

 who once take to coca-chewing can scarcely abstain from it, and in 

 this respect coca shows even a greater power on human habit than 

 tobacco does. 



After all the observations lately made, a moderate use of coca does 

 not appear to be injurious to health, and Von Tschudi even feels 

 inclined to think the contrary. He supports his opinion by showing 

 that many Indians attain a very great age without losing any of their 

 mental faculties. If a moderate use were really injurious, an age of 

 130 years, which is often met with amongst the Indians of Peru, would 

 seem to contradict it. 



Von Tschudi was, I think, the first to assert the fact, and Dr. Scherzer, 

 only a few years since, also tried to show that the importation of coca 

 leaves to Europe would very likely be accompanied with favourable 

 results. Both propose to apply thtm where human strength is subjected 

 to extraordinary hardships. Coca, in the hands of cautious captains, 

 will very probably put a stop to the much more disgusting habit of 

 chewing tobacco, and would certainly diminish the number of those 

 wl.o, after shipwreck, perish from want of food. 



Coca would prove equally useful in war, as there can be but little 

 doubt that the unhappy results of a lost battle must very often be 

 attributed to the exhaustion of the soldiers after a great many priva- 

 tions, and in not being properly provided with food. 



