The same author cites a great number of cases of this sort in which Coca "has never failed to exert an admirable action, often even marvelous." And he concludes (page 65): "It seems to me useless to bring forward more examples; these are enough to justify this positive general conclusion: Coca is the remedy par excellence for diseases of the digestive tube."
Beugniès-Corbeau[19] prescribes it in chloro-anæmia, not only for gastralgia, but for the frequent desire to eat which patients feel, disappearing as soon as the first mouthful has been taken, only to return a little while afterward.
Prof. O. Réveil ends his article on Coca as follows: "Much remains to be done in the physiological and clinical study of Coca; it is known that it acts on the motor and sensory nervous system. This substance is destined some day to take an important rank in therapeutics."
In irritability and various affections of the cerebral centers, Dr. J. Leonard Corning makes use of Coca, which he prefers to the bromides.
In a very remarkable essay on Erythroxylon Coca, published at Ixelles, in 1885, a perusal of which we urge upon all who are interested in the study of Coca, Dr. A. Feigneau says (page 61):
"There can be no mistake that, to a certain extent, Coca stimulates the cerebra-spinal activity by suspending or retarding the destruction of tissue in the economy, and that its action may modify the functions of the nervous centers, provided there are no such contra-indications to its use as active congestion, inflammation, or organic changes in these organs."
"Consequently it would be indicated under all circumstances where a nervous affection seemed to depend upon a state of ataxia."
"In irritations of the spinal cord, in mental aberration accompanied by melancholia, as well as against idiopathic convulsions (Mantegazza) and nervous paraplegia."
Dr. Beverley Robinson considers the Vin Mariani as a cardiac tonic[20]:
"On several occasions, when digitalis has proved to be useless or injurious, I have had very excellent results from caffeine or convallaria. Certainly, the latter drug is more easily tolerated by a sensitive stomach than digitalis is; and whenever the nervous supply of the heart is especially implicated, I believe that I secure more quieting effects from its employment. Among well known cardiac tonics and stimulants for obtaining temporary good effects, at least, I know of no drug quite equal to Coca. Given in the form of wine or fluid extract, it does much, at times, to restore the heart-muscle to its former tone. I have obtained the best effects from the use of Mariani's wine. From personal information given me by this reliable pharmacist, these results are attributable to the excellent quality of the Coca leaves and of the wine which he uses in its manufacture."