>>In 19th century Britain, what are nowadays hard
and illegal drugs were
acceptable medicines. They were NOT illegal. Queen Victoria
was prescribed laudanum, which contains cocaine. Cocaine is a
pain-killer; when Holmes took refuge in cocaine, it was
against his pain, probably psychological rather than
physical, though I'm not entirely sure about this point. The
reverberations are different, and you have to be careful
about what you read into the situation.<<
While I absolutely agree with *some* of the statements about
Holmes, I must take issue with the definitiion of laudanum.
Please see below:
Main Entry: lau·da·num Pronunciation: 'lod-n&m,
'lo-d&n-&m Function: noun Etymology: New Latin Date:
circa 1603 1 : any of various formerly used preparations of
opium 2 : a tincture of opium
While laudanum and many other derivatives of opium were used
as medicine, cocaine was used far more commonly. I believe
(see "Hard Habit To Break"--I forget the author's name) but
it was used to ease the pain of dental work. It was used by
Freud recreationally, until he became addicted, and wrote a
paper on his struggle with addiction. I do not know what
Arthur Conan Doyle meant by indicating Holmes used cocaine,
unless it was to highlight his 'bohemian' and unconventional
lifestyle.
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