ON SALE!
I've had this antique book (1st Edition from 1901) for years, and every once and a while I like to post it so you learn about one more book.... THIS hard cover book is titled.... Peru, History of Coca:
"The Divine Plant" of the Incas With an introductory account of the Incas, and of the Andean Indians of today by Golden W. Mortimer
This book is in very nice condition for its age )now, 100 years old!) with just some wear at the covers edges from reading and re-shelving. A little bump on the bottom tips of the front and back covers. INSIDE the pages show just a little foxing at the edges from age (107 years old.) The pages are at least 99% free of any marks or writing. The book has 576 pages, 178 illustrations. The front cover has a pictorial gilt cloth gilt spine title lettering. Rare to find this title in this good condition!
"The most comprehensive work on the coca plant and the history of its use by the Incas and their descendants''. The work has much on the history and botany of Coca, a description of the regions where it is produced, production and products of the Coca leaf, alkaloids, influence of Coca on energy and nervous system, physiology, adaptation of coca to voice production, the dieteticc influence of Coca, all in the context of the history of Peru and its peoples, the Incas, etc. There are detailed appendices on investigations of coca on physiology, therapeutic applications, food uses of coca, preparations. Excellent illustrations, many from early sources, artefacts, views, art, botanical, etc.
The pharmacologically active ingredient of coca is the alkaloid cocaine, which is found in the amount of about 0.3 to 1.5%, averaging 0.8%, in fresh leaves. Besides cocaine, the coca leaf contains a number of other alkaloids, including methylecgonine cinnamate, benzoylecgonine, truxilline, hydroxytropacocaine, tropacocaine, ecgonine, cuscohygrine, dihydrocuscohygrine, nicotine and hygrine. When chewed, coca acts as a mild stimulant and suppresses hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue.
Absorption of cocaine from the leaf is much less rapid and efficient than from the purified forms of cocaine, and it does not cause the euphoric and psychoactive effects associated with abuse of the drug. Some proponents have claimed that cocaine itself is not an active ingredient when unprocessed coca leaf is chewed or brewed as an infusion. However, studies have shown that small but measurable amounts of cocaine are present in the bloodstream after consumption of coca tea. Addiction or other deleterious effects from the consumption of the leaf in its natural form have not been documented.
The drug was first introduced to Europe in the 16th century, but did not become popular until the mid-19th century, with the publication of an influential paper by Dr. Paolo Mantegazza praising its stimulating effects on cognition. This led to invention of cocawine and the first production of pure cocaine. Cocawine (of which Vin Mariani was the best-known brand) and other cocaine-containing preparations were widely sold as patent medicines and tonics, with claims of a wide variety of health benefits. The original version of Coca-cola was among these. These products became illegal in most countries outside of South America in the early 20th century, after the addictive nature of cocaine was widely recognized.
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