The leaves are narrow, and 2-3 in. long, tapering at the extremities, and of a lively green tint when fresh. When ripe, which is known by their cracking or breaking off when bent, they are carefully stripped from the branches by women, and sun-dried. The latter operation needs especial care. The green leaves (mqt/e) are spread in thin layers on coarse woollen cloths, stretched upon prepared earthen or cement floors, after the manner of the " barbecues " used in coffee-drying, and exposed to the heat of the sun ; when perfectly dry, they are pressed into serons, or skin bags. Every precaution must be taken to prevent their imbibing any moisture during exposure, and to ensure their not sweating either then or subsequently. Well curedleaves are uncurled, of a deep green colour on the upper surface, and grey-green beneath, with a strong tea-like odour and pleasant pungent taste, and produce a sense of warmth when chewed ; inferior onea are dark coloured, with a less agreeable camphoraceous smell, and are almost devoid of the pungent flavour and physiological effect.
About 100 plants are reckoned to yield 1 arroba (say 26 lb.) of leaves at a crop. The total yearly produce averages about 800 lb. of dried leaves from an acre ; occasionally it amounts to 50 percent. more, but often also it is much less. Altogether probably 30 million lb. of the dried leaves are produced annually, for the consumption of some 8-10 million people ; this impliea an area of nearly 40,000 acres occupied by the culture. The best districts appear to be the eastern slopes of the hills in northern Bolivia. The great centre of production is the province of Yungas, in the Department of La Paz, embracing the low tropical region below 5000 ft. A very large trade in the leaves is carried on at most of the towns in Bolivia and Peru, but Totora appears to be the principal depot.
In Bolivia and Peru, the Indians masticate the leaves in combination with an alkaline substance. Most commonly, the alkali takes the form of pulverized quick-lime ; but in Cerro di Pasco, and places still further south, this is replaced by the pungent ashes of the quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa), and sometimes a little tapioca is added. In Brazil, the leaves are dried, and reduced to powder in a wooden mortar along with the ash from the burnt leaves of Cecropia peltata. Occasionally the leaves are infused, and the tea-like beverage is drunk ; but far more generally the compound of leaves and alkali is chewed like a quid of tobacco. The physiological effect is stimulating rather than purely narcotic, increasing the nervous energy, preventing fatigue, assuaging hunger and thirst, and rendering respiration easy at altitudes and under conditions otherwise most trying. It is therefore recommended for athletes, and should be invaluable to troops on the march or before action. Its use in excess is accompanied by the usual ill effects of too great indulgence in all narcotics. The substance is now known in European medicine and commerce. The dried leaves
suffer much deterioration by the sea-voyage, and give unreliable results ; but the fluid extract pre pared from the fresh leaves, and imported in bottles by Christy & Co., Fenchurch St., seems to retain its full virtues. The properties of the plant are due to an alkaloid, called "cocaine," which has been shown to bear strong analogy to the alkaloids of the dietetic beverages—tea, coffee, cocoa, guarana, &c.
Emetic Holly.—An infusion or decoction of the leaves of Ilex vomitoria is the narcotic beverage of the indigenes of Florida. Little or nothing is known of its active principle.
Ledum.—The leaves of the marsh ledum or wild rosemary (Ledum palustre), a heath-plant common in N. Europe, were formerly used in Scandinavia and N. Germany, for giving bitterness and headiness to malt-liquors. The broad-leaved ledum (L. latifolium) possesses identical proper ties. In N. America, both are known as "Labrador tea," and are largely used as a beverage. The former is probably the better for this purpose. They deserve further investigation.
Opium.—This well-known narcotic is the concreted juice obtained from the fruits or " heads " of the so-called " opium-poppy" (Papaver somniferum), an annual plant of several varieties. The principal are :—(l ) var. a. setigerum (P. setigerum), a truly wild form, occurring in the Peloponnesus, Hibres, Cyprus, and Corsica ; (2) var. 0. glabrum, cultivated chiefly in Asia Minor and Egypt ; (3) var. 7, album (P. officinale), cultivated in Persia, India, China, &c. The petals of these varieties range in colour from white to red or violet, with generally a dark-purple spot at the base. In England, the white-flowered are preferred. The seeds vary from white to slate-coloured.
The climatic conditions necessary to the successful culture of the poppy for its yield of opium are to be found throughout a very wide area, and the collection of the narcotic is possible in all tem perate and sub-tropical countries which are not subject to excessive rainfall. Numerous experiments made in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and even Sweden, have proved that a rich opium, equal to that of the East, can be produced in most parts of Europe. Grown in moist rich ground, in England, the heads attain double the size (3 in.) of those from Asia Minor and India. French opium has yielded the highest percentage (22'8) of morphine yet observed ; and at Clermont-Ferrand, a pure inspissated juice, called " afaurn," containing 10 per cent. of morphine, has been produced for many years, Experimental culture in the neighbourhood of Amiena showed that 14,725 capsules incised within 6 days gave 431 gnu. of milky juice, affording 205 grin. per cent.) of dry opium, containing 16 per cent. of morphine.