White Poppy-Medicinal Plant-1737

by Science Source

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White Poppy-Medicinal Plant-1737

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Science Source

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"A Curious Herbal", Plate 483. Blackwell writes ""rom the heads of these poppies (in Turkey) the opium of our shops is produced, opium is the greatest anodine (painkiller) we have, easing pain, procuring sleep, stopping all violent evacuations, and is an excellent medicine in the hands of a wise man; and ought never to be prescribed by any other; many fatal accidents ensuing from the immoderate or unseasonable use of it." Opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, is the species of plant from which opium and poppy seeds are derived. A flowering plant of the family Papaveraceae. Opium is the source of many narcotics, including morphine, heroin, thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine. Before its modern uses, opium was refined by natives and used as an aphrodisiac, sedative, decongestant, hypnotic, painkiller, narcotic, and muscle relaxant. It was used for treating asthma, stomach illnesses, and bad eyesight. In ancient days, opium was most often used to treat toothaches, and coughs. 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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