34 
NEW REMEDIES. 
But Von Tschudi and Dr. Scherzer give the most remarkable accounts of the stimu¬ 
lating 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 Yon Tschudi during a ride of 
twenty-three leguas (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 any¬ 
thing, 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 eighty-three leguas (248 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 18,000 feet in height. He actually re¬ 
turned 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 Ischudi 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, wnich is often met with amongst the Indians of Peru, would seem to contra¬ 
dict it. 
\ on Tschudi was, I think, the first to assert the fact, and Dr. Scherzer, only a few 
yeais since, also tried to show that the importation of coca leaves to Europe would very 
likely be accompanied with favourable results. Both propose to applv them 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 who, after shipwreck, perish 
from want of food. 
Coca would prove equally useful in war, as there can be but little doubt that the un- 
happy results of a lost battle must very often be attributed to the exhaustion of the 
soldiers after a great many privations, and in not being properly provided with food. 
Although the above-mentioned remarkable effects of coca have at least been par¬ 
tially known in Europe for some time, it cannot be said that even a superficial chemical 
examination of these leaves has been made. This may be attributed to the fact that 
the coca, notwithstanding the immense consumption in its native country, has but very 
seldom been brought to Europe. A few travellers brought away small samples, to give 
away afterwards as curiosities for museums, ^fc. 
Dr. Scherzer, during the circumnavigation of the Novara, bought a good quantity of 
coca leaves in Lima, which were in a perfect condition, and after his return to Europe 
he sent them to Mr. Wohler, Professor of Chemistry in Gottingen. This gentleman 
trusted his assistant. Dr. A. Niemann, with the chemical analysis, referring to its qua¬ 
litative and quantitative nature ; and to the careful examination of the latter, we are 
indebted for the cocaine, a new organic base in the coca leaves (analogous to caffeine, 
the operative principle in coffee, to theine, theobromine, etc Technologist. 
NEW REMEDIES. 
Essence of Mustard .—Olei Sinapis Essent. 1 part; Sp. Vini Rect. 60 parts. This 
forms a good substitute for a mustard poultice, and may be used in all cases where the 
application of mustard is indicated. 
It should be sparingly sprinkled on piline and applied to the part; the expedition 
with which it may be applied, and the rapidity of its action, are manifest advantages. 
The application of mustard, in cases of mania, has been found to have a remarkable 
effect. Dr. S. Newington, in the ‘Lancet’ of June 7, describes several cases in which 
