1890 Coca and its Therapeutic Application by Angelo Mariani

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The fruit is a drupe of an elongated ovoid form,being a little more than a centimetre in length,of areddish color when fresh, and having a tender,thickish pulp inclosing a seed. This seed shows longitudinal furrows and alternate vertical projections which make its division irregularly hexagonal. When the fruit is dried, the skin assumes a, brownish color,shrivels up and molds itself on the pro tuberances and irregularities of the seed.

CULTIVATION OF COCA.

ErytJiroxylon Coca appears to have come originally from Peru, and from there its cultivation was carried into Bolivia, Ecuador, New Grenada, and Brazil, in a word, throughout the entire torrid zone of South America. For some time,as a result of the extended consumption of Coca and for a still stronger reason, now that the day is at hand when the consumption of Coca will assume greater proportions, numerous plantations of Coca trees have been laid out in regions where that shrub was for merly unknown. We take pleasure in recording that these attempts have proved successful in the Antilles, thanks to the disinterested sacrifices of our friend, Dr. B6tancfes. It is also with pleasure that we present anew an interesting communication made by the learned doctor to the "Societd d'Acclimatation de France" as appeared in the Revue Diplomatique,17th of March,1888. "Dr. B^tancfes has succeeded in acclimatizing Coca in the Antilles. At considerable expense and after numerous shipments of seeds and the transportation of plants (this with the greatest difficulty) to Porto Rico and San Domingo, Dr. Betances had the pleasure of receiving a fine branch of Coca in full bloom,which was sent to him by Monseig- neur Mereno, Archbishop of San Domingo. This twig.