16 NBW PBEPABATlOm 
Dr. Isaac Ott writes to ih.Q Medical Becor'd the following upon Coca and its alkaloid 
Cocain : Alter a small dinner, with a cup of coffee, I masticated Coca, swallowing leaves 
and saliva. First, increased salivation; warmth of buccal mucous membrane, which ex¬ 
tended to stomach; the taste of leaves at first rather bitterish, but at length sweetish ; numb¬ 
ness of buccal mucous membrane; the heat of the skin seemed increased, and the physical 
forces seemed greater. In thirty-five minutes a slight disposition to move about. In two 
hours and a half ten grammes eaten, and some intoxication present; co-ordination some¬ 
what impaired; muscular strength seemed weakened; a sort of paresis; disposition to be 
left alone; going into reverie, with frontal pain; tinnitus auriurn; ears feel as if I had been 
blowing a wind instrument; pupil slightly dilated.' In three hours, somnolency ; frontal 
pain and fulness about ears continues ; disposition to close eyelids ; general numbness of 
whole body. In three hours and twenty-five minutes 29 cubic centimetres of water taken; 
mouth is hot and dry; nervous urine passed. In three hours and forty-five minutes, general 
numbness; reveries ; holding of respiration, as in deep thought. In four hours I have taken 
19^ grammes of Coca; the remaining were chewed, and the saliva only swallowed; somno¬ 
lency disappeared; mind bright and clear. In five hours, I have taken 28 grammes; pupil 
more dilated; slight supper taken, no coffee, but water; the supper seemed to bring down 
the action of the Coca. In seven hours and forty minutes, the Coca being gradually chewed, 
frontal headache returns with fulness of ears. In eight hours and forty-five minutes, 60 
grammes Of Coca have been chewed ; loquacity ; eyes brilliant and moist; at length speech 
becomes thick; am in high spirits and full of hopes. In ten hours and fifteen minutes fron¬ 
tal headache again coming on; drowsiness; then retire, but am unable to sleep. After a 
few hours, deep sleep comes on, but is disturbed and not prolonged. Arise at 7.30 a. m. ; 
pale face; eyes seem dry; lips bluish; take a light breakfeast without coffee. Since 10.30 
p. M. last night have had frontal pain; sensation in mouth still blunted. At dinner took 
three cups of coffee, which relieved me, but headache came on during the afternoon; taste 
blunted during the whole day. 
Coca on man increases the pulse, elevates the temperature, dilates the pupil, and de¬ 
creases the amount of water used and chloride of sodium excreted by the kidneys. 
Observations made with Cocain on lower animals gave the following results: 
In small and large doses it causes loss of co-ordination and decrease of motor power; 
it does not paralyze the anterior columns of the spinal cord. 
In small doses it increases the sensibility, which causes general convulsions upon irri¬ 
tation. Large doses abolish the functions of the posterior columns and sensory nerves. 
When gradually introduced in the system, it kills by stoppage of respiration. It redu¬ 
ces the pulse and arterial tension momentarily and afterwards increases them. This effect 
is a result of an action on the heart and vaso-motor centre. It does not paralyze either the 
pneumogastrics or the vaso-motor centre situated in the brain. 
It first excites and then paralyzes the centres of respiration. 
The pupil is dilated, and the temperature after a depression rises. 
On striated muscles the course of contraction, as registered by Marey’s comparative myo¬ 
graph, is similar to that with veratria. 
If Coca and Cocain are compared with coffee and calfein in their physiological action, 
the result will be that they are very similar, and that Coca and its alkaloid should be classed 
amongst the excitants, of which coffee is the chief example. 
From a pamphlet on Goca Leaf^ by Manuel A. Fuentes, of Lima, Peru, and translated 
for the Chemist and Druggist^ by P. L. Simmonds, we make the following selections: 
The leaves are gathered when they have attained their full development, which is about 
4 centimetres in length. They have then acquired a certain degree of consistency, the 
green color—resembling the emerald—of the upper surface and the pale under side "of the 
leaf are in their full brilliancy. About this time they will almost drop themselves. During 
the gathering great care must be taken not to injure the young leaf-buds, or they will dry 
up, and the second crop of leaves be diminished. They ought to be gathered leaf by leaf, 
holding the bough with the fingers of the left hand, and collecting with those of the right 
hand. 
' In taking his Coca the Indian seats himself leisurely, and opening his bag, introduces 
leaf by leaf into his mouth. He chews it, and with his tongue forms it into a kind of ball, 
which he lodges in the side of his mouth, like a quid of tobacco. He then moistens with 
his saliva the end of a small stick, which he introduces into a little calabash containing 
lime or wood ashes, formed of the burnt stems of the Ghenopodium Quinoa^ and licks this 
stick two or three times. They generally take Coca three times during the day ; the first 
time before commencing their work, the second about the middle of their task, and the third 
some time after completing their labor. 
For a long time the reputed virtues of the leaf were scouted as fabulous, but later, the 
results of experience, the impartiality of the celebrated historians, and the authority of a 
great number of scientific men corroborated the facts set forth as to the benefit of this 
custom of the Indians. 
