COCA, Erytkroxylon coca, a shrub of the natural order erythrorylacem, of which the leaves are much used by the inhabitants of Peru and Bolivia as a narcotic and stimulant. The dried leaves are chewed with a little finely powdered unslaked lime, or with the alkaline ashes of the quinoa (q.v.), or certain other plants. An infusion is also occasionally used. The properties and effects of C. resemble those of opium, although it is less narcotic, whilst it possesses the property of dilating the pupil of the eye, which opium does not possess. It also lessens the desire for ordinary food, and for some time, at least, enables the person who uses it to endure greater and more protracted exertion than he otherwise could, and with less food. It is especially remarkable for its property of preventing the difficulty of respiration, so common in the ascent of long and steep slopes at great elevations. But when used habitually and in excess, it weakens
the digestion, produces biliary and other disorders, and finally induces a miserable ruin both of body and mind. It has been in use from a very remote period among the Indians of South America, and was extensively cultivated before the Spanish conquest. Many of the Indians of the Peruvian Andes arc to this day excessively addicted to it, and its use is quite general among them, besides prevailing to a considerable extent among the other inhabitants of the same regions. Its culture and use have extended into Brazil and the countries on the banks of the Amazon, and it is supposed that about 30,000,000 lbs. of the dried leaf are consumed in a year, about 10,000,000 of the human race par taking in the indulgence.