very variable plant. In English nurseries it grows in the form of a shrub, three feet to four feet in height. Some of the specimens are much branched, and the leaves differ very much from each other, both in size and shape. The plant is said to be easily cultivated in an ordinary plant-stove, in a compost of fresh WHOLE NO. 31. Madagascar and the Mauritius. In nearly all the species a distinct pale band runs up the centre of the back of the leaf, as shown in our engraving; indeed, in some descriptions of the leaf of the coca plant, it is stated that two veins, in addition to the mid-rib, run parallel to the margin, as in melastomads. Articles on the therapeutic uses of the leaf, as The Coca Plant.-Leaf, natural size, single flower, and ovary enlarged. fibrous loam, leaf mould, and sand; when growing it requires copious supplies of water at the root, and frequent syringing with tepid water, to keep down insect pests. Cuttings of both stem and root may be employed for purposes of propagation. well as its history as a masticatory, will be found in the last volume of NEW REMEDIES, but we will add here a synopsis of its effects as determined by Sir Robert Christison, who, during the past year has, with others, made a number of experiments with it, and whose efforts have mainly been the cause of the renewed interest which the drug has awakened. His conclusions are: (1) That, taken in quantities of two drachms by healthy persons, it has no injurious, unpleasant, or suspicious effect whatever; (2) that in very few cases this dose of an inferior sample had no effect at all; (3) that in by far the greater number of instances, and with a fine sample, extreme fatigue was in every case, removed and prevented from returning, and that no doubt can exist that in such persons its restorative and preventive powers will render protracted exercise easy, without any subsequent There are about seventy species of Erythroxylon, harm, so far as the restorative is concerned; some of which have stimulating qualities, while (4) that it does not in the end impair the appeothers furnish a tonic bark somewhat resembling tite or digestion, although hunger, even after that of cinchona. The bark of one species-E. long fasting, is taken away for an hour or two; tuberosum-supplies a reddish dye. The ma- (5) that the use of it does not agree with more jority of the species are natives of South America than a very moderate use of alcoholic stimuand the West Indies, but others are found in lants. |