Cocaine
an alkaloid obtained from the leaves of coca. A new and most important discovery to the medical profession was made in 1884, through pure accident, by a German student who had rate of Cocaine. Getting some by accioccasion to experiment with hydrochlodent in his eye, he was amazed to find that it caused the surface to become insensible to all feeling. The remedy has already been widely employed by ophthalmic surgeons, with brilliant results. Nor has its use been confined to the eye. the larynx, to the ear (in severe neu- When applied locally to the interior of ralgia), and to other delicate membranes, its effect is the same; pain and irritability are relieved, and the surgeon is enabled to accomplish his purpose without causing any suffering in cases where caine is one of the drugs most commonly causing any suffering in cases where employed by drug addicts, and its sale is carefully safeguarded in most States.
See DRUG ADDICTION.
See DRUG ADDICTION. (plants of the genus Colocasia, and of the der Araceæ, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries for their (edible starchy root-stocks, of which the COCCOLOBA food value broadly corresponds to the potato. They are sometimes included under the name Yam, but are totally different from the true yam. The names more strictly belong to Colocasia antiquorum, a stemless plant with ovate leaves, and flowers inclosed in a cylindrical erect spathe. This is a native of India, but was early introduced to Egypt and the Mediterranean countries, whence it has now passed even to America. C. esculenta, C. macrorhiza, or tara, and C. Himalensis are also of economic importance in different parts of the world.