Coca and Cocaine: Their History, Medical and Economic Uses, and Medicinal Preparations

A scientific publication written in the late 19th century. This work delves into the historical context, cultural significances, and various uses of the coca plant and its alkaloid, cocaine, over the centuries. It addresses misconceptions and provides insights into the medical and economic implications of coca and cocaine, highlighting their significance in different contexts. The opening of the book introduces the transcriber’s notes, dealing primarily with typographical corrections and standardisation of text. It includes the prefaces to both the first and second editions, sequentially setting the stage for a discussion on the coca plant's historic reputation, its uses among the indigenous populations of Peru, and the evolving perceptions of these uses by European society. Martindale outlines the initial skepticism surrounding the benefits attributed to coca and cocaine, counterbalanced by emerging scientific insights, and hints at the discussions and chapters to follow that will offer detailed examinations of coca's cultivation, its sociocultural implications, and the development of cocaine as a medicinal and economic product.