From: NeurGnosis-AT-aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 07:40:37 EDT
Subject: Re: morphine



Daniel asks:

< Im studying WWar1 at skool, and I asked about morphine use, and the teacher 
<said it was not only the most used painkiller, but the only one (she 
< believes) was available. She didn't know (doubt1) when did people start to 
< use morphine? 

carp answers

<<The invention of Heroin by Dr. Bayer  (Other invention?  Aspirin)  in the
<<late 19th century was the first attempt to appy a process of semi-synthesis
<<in order to increase the pain-killing aspects of Morphine.


Slight correction.  Bayer wasn't the first to add the two acetyl groups to 
morphine to transform it into Heroin (which was a brand name for di-acetyl 
morphine).  Some other chemist (can't remember name right now) did this in 
1874.  Bayer "rediscovered" this guy's research and begin to market Heroin as 
a non-addictive pain killing alternative to morphine and codeine in 1898 I 
believe.  It didn't take long for people to realize just how non-addictive it 
was (the chemical change allows the drug to cross over into the brain much 
more rapidly, afterwards being converted back to morphine and codeine; 
basically it's the same drug as with faster action and increased potency).
Another relevant mention here is the invention of the hypodermic syringe in 
the 1856.  This breakthrough in medical science allowed immediate 
introduction of psychoactive substances into the body, bypassing those 
previous pesky waits for absorption; straight to stoned in 5 seconds flat.  
Morphine was used extensively throughout the Civil War, leading many a man to 
come home with "soldier's disease" or "army disease"; i.e., a big fat dope 
habit.

<<where and when did scientists first develop chemical weapons to fight 
trenches?

Though scientists are still vigorously working on more advanced chemical 
weapons in the struggle against trenches, right now the shovel seems to be 
the most effective and least costly.

--Archie Type