Origin. - The dried leaves of Erythroxylon Coca Lam., known commercially as Huanuco Coca or of E. Truxillense, Rusby, known commercially as Truxillo Coca, yielding when assayed not less than 0.5 per cent. of the ether-soluble alkaloids of coca.

Coca is indigenous in the mountains of Peru and 'Bolivia, and on the eastern slopes of the Andes, is cultivated in damp, warm valleys from 3000 to 6000 feet (914.5 - 1829 M.) above the sea-level, being also grown in some parts of Colombia, Brazil, the Argentine Republic, and the island of Java. The province of La Paz in Bolivia produces the largest crops, the article being more highly esteemed than the Peruvian variety. Cocaine is obtained from leaves of several varieties of Erythroxylon.

The active constituent is the alkaloid cocaine, 0.36 to 1.67 per cent. The plant also contains a number of allied alkaloids, cinnamyl cocaine, cocamine, isococamine, tropacocaine, hygrine, etc. These are all found in minute quantities.

Dose. - 1/2-4 drachms (2.0-16.0 Gm.) [30 grains (2 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparations

Fluidextractum Cocae - Fluidextracti Cocae - Fluidextract of Coca. - Dose, 20 minims- 1 fluidrachm (1.2-4.0 Cc.) [30 minims (2 Cc), U. S. P.].

Vinum Cocae - Vini Cocae - Wine of Coca (U. S. P.). - An official wine prepared from the fluidextract of coca.

Dose. - Average dose: 4 fluidrachms (16 Cc). U. S. P.