Researchers at the medical properties of cannabis - William O'Shaughnessy
William Brooke O'Shaughnessy (1808 - 1889) - Irish surgeon and chemist, MD, a member of the Royal Society of London, known in connection with his work in the field of pharmacology, in particular studies of medical properties of cannabis. Author of the book "Bengal Pharmacopoeia" (1842), detailing the medical use of cannabis.
Born in Ireland, he studied chemistry and forensic toxicology in Scotland, completed in 1829, College of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Based on his studies of blood infected with cholera, Dr. Thomas Latta Leytsky suggested using an intravenous infusion for the treatment of cholera.
Since 1833 he had a medical practice in India and later became a professor at the University of Calcutta. Since the mid-1830s. I investigated the properties of alcohol tinctures of cannabis - first at the dogs, and then in human volunteers. The work, published in 1839, O'Shaughnessy noted that the tincture has established itself as an effective pain reliever. Professors very impressed and her ability to relax muscles, due to which he called hemp "anticonvulsant's most valuable."
In 1842, O'Shaughnessy returned to England, bringing with him a considerable amount of cannabis. The new drug quickly gained popularity among British doctors and pharmacists. In 1842 the book was written "Bengal Pharmacopoeia", detailing the medical use of cannabis.