Cocaine is an alkaloid obtained from the leaves of Erythroxylon Coca and other species of the family Erythroxylaceae, tall shrubs native to equatorial South America. The hydrochloride salt of the alkaloid is the substance used in medicine.

Properties:

Appearance................................................................................................

Solubility:

Color ..............................................................................................................

H2O......................................................................................................

Odor......................................................................

C2H5OH........................................................................................

Taste.....................................................................

Incompatibilities: To a 0.5% sol. Cocaine Hydrochloride add

AgNO3, T. S..............................-.................... Na2C03 , T. S....................................................................................

Cocaine Hydrochloride is decomposed by boiling water. The chief use for Cocaine is to produce regional anaesthesia. Cocaine is not without danger, and several substitutes have been offered. Of these the least toxic and least irritating is Procaine, but it is also least powerful.