1890 Coca and its Therapeutic Application by Angelo Mariani

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> of the vessels, to revive patients poisoned with injections of Cocaine hydrochlorate. In repeating these experiments in the laboratory, Dr. Laffont has succeeded little by little in enlarging his field of experiments, and finally has given to the Acaddmie de Medecine (session of the 4th of January, 1888), a complete and definitive account of the action of the active principles of Coca on the different functions of the econ- n omy. This work of original researches and criticism of previous works will serve to explain the methodical and rational use of our preparations in the list of the different diseases where our former previsions had already led us to advise them. In an earlier work (Comptes-rendus, Socidtd de Biologic, Dec. 3,1887), Dr.Laffont, studying the action of Cocaine on the greatsympathetic nervous system,found that under the action of the active principle of Coca the functions of all the constrictor fibres of the great sympathetic nerve were increased. The stomach contracts. The intestines undergo an augmentation in peristalsis and horborygmi are heard. The bladder invariably contracts,as M.Laborde has also seen. The orbital capsule of the eye(smooth muscle)propels In a word,all the smooth-fibred muscles or muscles of organic life, subordinate to the great sympathetic nervous system constrictor, undergo an augmentation of functional activity. In a second essay (Comptes-rendus, Socidt^ de Biologic, Dec.17, 1887),the same experimenter studied more par ticularly the mechanism of the local or general analgesic action of Cocaine, and, like M. Arloing, as opposed to M.Laborde,he found that the cerebral perceptibility was the eye-ball forward. The pupil is dilated.