1 Ocr., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 331 
Coca has been praised as a nervine and muscular tonic, preventing waste 
of tissue, appeasing hunger and thirst, relieving fatigue, aiding free respiration, 
and as being useful in various diseases of the digestive and respiratory organs. 
Tt is said to be specially useful in many forms of asthma, chronic bronchitis, 
obstinate cough, phthisis, and general debility ; in gastric derangements, owing 
to its slight astringency, it seems to give more tone to the stomach than the 
mere ancesthetic action of the cocaine it contains would produce locally ; it is 
recommended for indigestion, gastralgia, gastrodynia, nausea, sickness, distaste 
for food; is given to relieve pain, vomiting, or discomfort caused by excess in 
either eating or drinking, and as a cure for opium or alcohol craving. In using 
it for this in America, it is said in some cases to have produced “ Coca craving.” 
Coca is also said to cause mental exhilaration, and has been used in 
melancholia, in cases of inordinate hunger or thirst such as occur in some forms 
of diabetes, and in cases of generative debility. Locally, a solution of the 
extract in water has been used as a pigment in irritated, inflamed, and granular 
conditions of the larynx and pharynx. 
The pastils haye been used similarly for loss of voice due to weakness or 
relaxation of the vocal cords. Topically, these preparations act as astringent 
cedatives without deranging the stomach. Externally, Coca may be made 
into poultices, or a plaster made with the extract combined with resin or soap 
plaster may be applied for rheumatism, lumbago, &c. The leaves are also 
sometimes smoked to relieve asthma.—WMartindale and Westcott, Extra 
Pharmacopwia. 
Cocaine.—The active principle contained in the leaves is an alkaloid 
called “ cocaine,” and is largely used in medicine, surgery, &e. 
For ophthalmic surgery, cocaine is in general use, and its application 
considered most satisfactory. It is also of great value in nose, ear, and throat 
operations. Good Coca leaves yield 0°5 per cent. or more of cocaine, but the 
average is less, and if fermented often nil. The London market price of 
cocaine in July (1897) was.9s. 3d. to 9s. 6d. per oz. 
Collection, Preparation, §c.— Great care must be taken in the gathering, 
drying, and preservation of Coca, as its activity and value depend in a great 
measure on its mode of preparation. The leaves should be gathered as soon as 
they bave arrived at maturity, at which period they are bright-green on the 
upper surface and yellowish-green on their under surface, and have an agree- 
able and somewhat aromatic odour. ‘The leaves are gathered separately and 
carefully by hand with the twofold object of preventing them being crushed 
or bruised in the process; and also so as not to injure the young leaf-buds 
which are left behind for the purpose of obtaining a second crop of leaves. 
They are then spread out and dried slowly in the sun. This operation must 
be performed with great care, for, if the leaves be dried too rapidly, they lose 
their odour and green colour ; and if stored away before they are thoroughly 
dried their colour is also changed, and they acquire a disagreeable odour and 
taste. 
Commercial Coca either consists of the leaves more or less pressed together 
in compact masses, or of the leaves ina loose state. In either case the leaves 
are not curved or rolled in any degree, but perfectly flat. The properties in 
the leaves are injured by transportation, and often by keeping ; therefore they 
should be packed in tin-lined cases.—B. and 7. Med. Plants. 
