Practically every Indian carries in a little pouch a quantity of these leaves in dried form.  The effect of this drug is to increase their capacity for endurance; it makes them unconscious for hunger and fatigue.  Through our interpreter, we frequently asked them about the comfort and nourishment they obtained from leaves and were told that they often preferred these leaves to food when they were on a journey and carrying heavy loads.  Price was informed that they could increase the quantity of the drug used to a point at which they were quite unconscious of pain and able to endure injuries without suffering and operations without discomfort.