568 
Erythroxylon  Coca. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t    Dec.  1, 1874. 
the  full  effects  of  the  medicine  appear  to  be  realized  from  its  admin- 
istration. This  is  the  oldest,  and  almost  the  only  preparation  of  coca 
which  has  been  used,  and  to  this  attention  may,  with  propriety,  be 
first  directed. 
Infusum  Cocce. — Take  of  coca,  bruised,  one  ounce  ;  boiling  water, 
ten  fluidounces.    Infuse  in  a  covered  vessel,  for  one  hour,  and  strain. 
This  preparation  resembles  in  appearance,  and  odor,  an  infusion  of 
ordinary  green  tea.  Its  taste  is  slightly  bitter  and  alkaline,  recall- 
ing infusion  of  spearmint.  The  benumbing  sensation,  experienced 
when  chewing  the  leaves,  is  not  so  perceptible  in  this  infusion.  By 
applying  to  the  dregs  a  slight  pressure,  about  eight  ounces  of  liquid 
may  be  recovered.  Each  ounce  of  the  preparation  will  therefore  be 
equivalent  to  a  drachm  of  the  leaves.  The  dose  may  be  from  one  to 
two  fluidounces.* 
Ext.  Cocce  Aquosum. — Coca  in  moderately  coarse  (No.  40)  powder ; 
water  a  sufficiency.  Macerate  the  coca  with  four  times  its  weight  of 
water,  for  12  hours,  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  120°F.  Trans- 
fer to  a  percolator  and  exhaust  with  water.  Evaporate,  by  means  of 
water-bath,  to  the  consistence  of  an  extract. 
The  extract,  thus  prepared,  is  of  a  dark-brown  color,  and  bitter 
but  not  very  characteristic  taste,  100  parts  of  leaves  yield  36  parts 
of  extract.    The  dose  may  be  from  15  to  30  grains. 
Ext.  Cocce  Alcoholicum. — Coca  in  moderately  fine  (No.  50)  pow- 
der ;  alcohol,  sp.  gr.  -838  a  sufficiency.  Moisten  the  powder  with 
alcohol  and  pack  tightly  in  a  percolator.  Add  alcohol,  and  contiune 
the  percolation  until  the  powder  is  exhausted.  Evaporate  the  perco- 
late, by  means  of  a  water-bath,  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding 
150°F.,  until  the  extract  is  of  proper  consistence. 
This  extract  is  much  superior  to  that  prepared  by  water,  possess- 
ing, in  the  highest  degree,  the  characteristic  taste  and  odor  of  the 
plant ;  and,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  by  experiments 
upon  myself,  possessing  also  in  full  its  medicinal  properties.  It  is 
of  a  green  color,  resembling  extract  of  Indian  hemp,  and  is  appar- 
*  A  description  of  the  therapeutical  effect  of  coca  does  not  properly  come 
within  the  limits  of  this  paper.  But  for  information  regarding  the  remedy,  as 
administered  by  infusion,  the  reader  is  referred  to  a  Prize  Essay  on  the  sub- 
ject, written  by  Dr.  Mantegazza,  of  Milan,  and  of  which  abstracts  may  be 
found  in  the  Pharm.  Journ.  and  Trans.,  1860,  and  the  Druggists'  Circular,  vol. 
iv,  p.  253. 
