Page 6 - Pharmacy History 31 Mar 2007

(Cont. from page 5)
Morphine
To Morphine next on our list we come, The anodyne alkaloid of opium;
A powerful anaesthetic we observe, Benumbing the tract of sensory nerve.
But a drug the Dentist usually rejects, Owing to its disagreeable after effects;
Not even with arsenic to obtund pain, Will a Dentist now use it who has cocaine.
Nitrous Oxide-Protoxide Nitrogen
Nitrous Oxide N2 O its formula fix, Discovered by Priestly in 1776;
In the year of 1844 Horace Wells,
A Dentist, as Dentist history tells, Gave a scientific demonstration,
Of its use in a surgical operation.
It is gas, generated, as we may state, From distillation of Ammonia Nitrate; To the profession known as laughing gas, As a general anaesthetic none can surpass;
In Dental operation, history’s made clear, Most successful has been this gas’ career.
Amyl Nitris
Amyl Nitris C5 H11 NO29
A compound of starch and nitric acid true,
Which acts like magic, with a shock or a start, Dilating the arteries, and relieving the heart;
In cases of syncope, or sudden collapse,
It is one of the best agents we could hit on, perhaps.
Chloroform
Choloform here on our list now we see,
Foryml Trichlorid CHCl3.
It acts as a counter-irrant we may explain,
And as an obtundant it will quickly relieve pain. But as an anaesthetic, from statistics we trace, In dental operations it should not have a place. Although a drug we feel loath to despise
As a place in our cabinet it always supplies. A solvent for gutta percha for filling of roots.
I hope that this has given an enjoyable glimpse at another dimension to all those inert substances that you have dispensed through your careers. Tunnock’s definitions are equally a social commentary of pharmacology and education a century ago. The writer highly recommends that you locate this publication and enjoy the poetical adventure of Homeric proportions.
Terry Sutcliffe is a practising lawyer in Auckland NZ, and his intense interest in pharmacy history stems from his grandfather who was a chemist and druggist, registered in 1909. terenily@gmail.com
The 38th International Congress for the History of Pharmacy is to be held in Sevilla (Spain), from September 19- 22 2007. The theme of the Congress will be Drugs and Medicines from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
You can keep up to date with Congress information on the website at www.histpharm.org or through this Journal. You can also ask to be put on
International society for the history of pharmacy
the Preliminary Registration mailing list to receive information direct to your email. Abstracts of papers are due by April 30th 2007.
Send Name and address details to: Professor Dr Estoban Moreno Toral, Historia de la Farmacia,
Facultad de Farmacia,
C/P. Garcia Gonzalez 2, 41012-Seville (Spain)
toral@us.es, Fax 0034 5 9545 5672 6.
If any Australian member
is planning to attend the Seville congress, please advise the Academy Secretary, gcmiller@iinet. net.au as further information is available about the Congress for you.
 ■ Pharmacy History Australia
volume 3 ■ no 31 ■ MARCH 2007