Cocaine: History, Social Implications, and Toxicity. A Review. Rachel A. Goldstein. Dis Mon 2009;55:6-38.
Background/History of Use: Cocaine is a naturally occurring substance found in the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca plant. The plant is endogenous to South America, Mexico, Indonesia, and the West Indies. Peoples of ancient civilizations used the coca leaves for religious and ceremonial reasons. Remains of coca leaves in the cheeks of Peruvian mummies have been found. These ancient civilizations used a mixture of coca leaves and saliva as a local anesthetic for ritual trephinations. Trephinations involved removing a ... Continuar leyendo
