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opium
(Encyclopedia)opium, substance derived by collecting and drying the milky juice in the unripe seed pods of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. Opium varies in color from yellow to dark brown and has a characterist...Opium Wars
(Encyclopedia)Opium Wars, 1839–42 and 1856–60, two wars between China and Western countries that marked the shift of wealth and power from East to West. The first was between Great Britain and China. Early in t...paregoric
(Encyclopedia)paregoric pârˌəgôrˈĭk [key], alcoholic solution of opium and camphor first prepared in the 18th cent. Because of the constipating effect of opium, paregoric has been used to control diarrhea. It...Afyonkarahisar
(Encyclopedia)Afyonkarahisar äfyōnˈkäˌrähĭsärˈ [key] [Turk.,=black castle of opium], city, capital of Afyonkarahisar prov., W central Turkey, at an elevation of c.3,500 ft (1,0...morphine
(Encyclopedia)morphine, principal derivative of opium, which is the juice in the unripe seed pods of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. It was first isolated from opium in 1803 by the German pharmacist F. W. A. S...laudanum
(Encyclopedia)laudanum lôdˈənəm [key], tincture, or alcoholic solution, of opium, first compounded by Paracelsus in the 16th cent. Not then known to be addictive, the preparation was widely used up through the ...codeine
(Encyclopedia)codeine kōˈdēn [key], alkaloid found in opium. It is a narcotic whose effects, though less potent, resemble those of morphine. An effective cough suppressant, it is mainly used in cough medicines. ...papaverine
(Encyclopedia)papaverine pəpăvˈərēn [key], alkaloid found in opium that acts as a muscle relaxant and vasodilator. The drug relaxes the smooth muscle of the larger blood vessels and is used to increase the blo...hypnotic drugs
(Encyclopedia)hypnotic drugs, drugs that induce sleep, sometimes called soporifics. In general, hypnotics are central nervous system depressants. Alcohol, laudanum (see opium), bromide salts, and herbs such as vale...De Quincey, Thomas
(Encyclopedia)De Quincey, Thomas də kwĭnˈsē [key], 1785–1859, English essayist. In 1802 he ran away from school and tramped about the country, eventually settling in London. His family soon found him and ente...Browse by Subject
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