Red Poppy-Medicinal Plant-1737
by Science Source
Title
Red Poppy-Medicinal Plant-1737
Artist
Science Source
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
"A Curious Herbal", Plate 2. shows the red poppy, also called the field or corn poppy, a harmless relative of the opium poppy. "The flowers," Blackwell writes, "are cooling, incline to sleep, and much used in inflammatory fevers." The red poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family, Papaveraceae. Red Poppy petals have the same narcotic effects as opium. As they do not contain morphine, they were traditionally used as a substitute for opium in medical cases. The red poppy is commonly used as a sedative to treat insomnia and pains especially in children. The infusion of the poppy is believed to be useful in treating bronchitis, asthma, coughs and pertussis. The seeds are used to treat vitiligo. Elizabeth Blackwell (1707-1758) was a famed Scottish illustrator and author who was best known as both the artist and engraver for the plates of "A Curious Herbal" (1737). A herbal is a book of plants, describing their appearance, their properties and how they may be used for preparing ointments and medicines. The book is notable both for its beautiful illustrations of medicinal plants and for the unusual circumstances of its creation. Blackwell undertook the project to raise money to pay her husband's debts and release him from debtor's prison. She drew, engraved, and colored the illustrations herself, mostly using plant specimens from the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. It was an artistic, scientific and commercial enterprise unprecedented for a woman of her time. Little is known of her later years. She died in 1758, at the age of 50 or 51. She remained loyal to Alexander throughout, even sharing royalties with him from the sale of additional book rights.
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June 16th, 2014
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