450 
ON  A  NEW  ALKALOID  IN  COCA. 
permanganate  of  potassa,  concentrated  leys,  &c  (Vol.  cxiv. 
Ill,  112.) 
Nitrohenzole  from  oil  of  Turpentine, — The  residue  from  the 
influence  of  concentrated  nitric  acid  upon  oil  of  turpentine,  when 
mixed  with  sand  and  subjected  to  dry  distillation,  yields  a 
brown  oil,  from  which  between  200  and  220°  C,  much  nitro- 
benzole  is  obtained.  Schiff  converted  it  by  zinc  and  muriatic 
acid  into  anilin,  which  was  recognized  by  chromic  acid  and 
chloride  of  lime  (Vol.  cxiv.  201.) 
A  NEW  ALKALOID  IN  COCA. 
Coca  is  the  name  under  which  the  leaves  of  several  species  of 
Erythroxylon  are  and  have  been  known  in  Peru  from  time  im- 
memorial, and  which,  especially  among  the  Indians,  are  used  for 
chewing,  mixed  with  a  little  unslacked  lime  or  wood  ashes.  Nu- 
merous and  somewhat  fabulous  accounts  are  given  of  their  phy- 
siological action,  as  for  instance  in  "Tschudi's  Travels  in  Peru." 
A  moderate  use  is  said  to  produce  excitement  of  the  functions, 
to  enable  the  cbewer  to  remain  some  time  without  food,  and  to 
bear  the  greatest  bodily  exertions ;  while  an  immoderate  chew- 
ing of  coca,  like  that  of  opium,  frequently  becomes  an  habitual 
vice,  producing  all  the  deleterious  symptons  and  consequences 
of  narcotics,  such  as  a  state  of  half  intoxication,  half  of  drowsi- 
ness, with  visionary  dreams,  premature  decay,  complete  apathy, 
and  idiocy.    These  peculiar  symptoms  rendered  the  presence  of 
a  narcotic  principle  very  probable,  and  have  induced  Prof. 
Woehler  and  Dr.  Niemann,  of  Goettingen,  to  undertake  the  in- 
vestigation of  the  substance.    The  material  was  furnished  by 
Dr.  Scherzer,  the  naturalist  of  the  exploring  expedition  in  the 
Austrian  frigate  Novara.    The  examination  has  so  far  succeeded, 
by  the  usual  method  for  the  separation  of  alkaloids,  in  elimina- 
ting a  crystallizable  base,  cocaine,  crystallizing  in  small  prisms, 
devoid  of  color  or  odor,  slightly  soluble  in  water,  more  readily 
in  alcohol,  and  very  easily  in  ether.    It  possesses  a  strongly 
marked  alkaline  reaction,  and  a  bitter  taste,  and  acts  in  so  far 
peculiarly,  as  it  transiently  benumbs,  or  almost  paralyzes  the 
