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HISTORICAL CANNABIS MEDICINES |
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CHARLES EDWARD BROWN-SEQUARD (1818–94)
L. F. Haas
http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/64/1/89.full
As per the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
1998;64:89 doi:10.1136/jnnp.64.1.89
Brown-Seuard, the son of an American sea captain and a French woman, was born on the island of Mauritius. Mauritius had formerly been French but it was British at the time of Brown-Séquard’s birth, making him a British subject. He practiced at varying times in Paris, Mauritius, London, and New York. He remained longer (four and a half years) at The National Hospital in London of which he was a founder physician, than at any other place or in any other post until 14 years later when he succeeded Claude Bernard in his final appointment as Professor of Medicine at the College de France. He took his medical degree in Paris in 1846 with a thesis on the study of reflex movements and the functions of the columns of the spinal cord.
Brown-Sequard is largely remembered for his work on the spinal cord, which culminated in his classic rendition of the symptoms manifest by hemisection of the cord (1850, 1851). After his initial studies he continued to investigate the mode and site of conduction of motor and sensory impulses in the spinal cord and together with Turck laid the foundation of the anatomy and function of the spinal cord. Brown-Sequard’s second important contribution to neurology comprised studies on sympathetic control of the vasomotor mechanisms. In 1852 he gave a series of lectures in Philadelphia in which he described contraction of the blood vessels of the face after galvanic stimulation of the cervical sympathetic nerves. This discovery proved embarrassing to Claude Bernard, who later reported the same discovery and misinterpreted the findings, unaware of Brown-Séquard’s work. A series of experiments (published 1856) demonstrated the connection between the excision of the adrenal glands and Addison’s disease. It is for this work that he is probably best known.
In his studies of epilepsy (1856) he sought the cause and treatment for the disease and, in so doing, was among the first to advocate bromides in the treatment of epilepsy. By the 1860s Brown-Sequard was recognized as an authority and expert on all diseases of the nervous system. He continued experimenting until the end of his 77th year. During his tenure of the Professorship at the College de France, he investigated the possibility of prolonging human life by the use of extracts prepared from the testes of different animals. This led to many abuses, the commercialisation of the products, and much unfavourable publicity. Brown-Sequard became convinced from his imperfect experiments that not only the thyroid but also the adrenal, pancreas, liver, spleen and kidneys had internal secretions that could be employed in the treatment of disease. The term internal secretions was not his own but the creation of Claude Bernard, but Brown-Sequard’s work gave great stimulus to the continuing studies.
He was honoured philatelically by Mauritius, the country of his birth, on the centenary of his death in 1994 (Stanley Gibbons 903, Scott 786).
MUSEUM COMMENT
Simply put, this guy was a genius. Or at least it seems this way as we keep running into his name, time after time as the originator of one medicine or another. However, today he is best noted for the medicine commonly known as “Neuralgic Brown-Sequard’s.” The (very partial) list below shows just how many companies manufactured it. Note that the formulation does vary somewhat from one company to another, but almost all started from Brown-Squared’s original recipe. AND YES, all of the (below) listed versions of Brown-Sequard DID INDEED contain Medical Cannabis as one of their ingredients.
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AMERICAN GRANULE AND TABLET [1910] pg. 70 - 1447 - Neuralgic Idiophathic - Brown-Sequard Ext. Hyoscyamus 2-3 gr. Ext. Conium Fruit 2-3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1-2 gr. Ext. Opium 1-2 gr. Ext. Aconite Leaves 1-3 gr. Ext. Cannabis Indica 1-4 gr. Ext. Stramonium Seed 1-5 gr. Ext. Belladonna Leaves 1-6 gr. |
AMERICAN FERMENT Co. [catalog date unknown] Pg. 23 - Neuralgic Idiopathic (Brown Sequard) Ext. henbane 2-3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1-2 gr. Ext. Stramonium Sd. 1-5 gr. Ext. Conium Seed 2-3 gr. Ext. Opium 1-2 gr. Ext. Cannabis Ind. 1-4 gr. Ext. Belladonna Lvs. 1-5 gr. Ext. Aconite Lvs. 1-3 gr. |
BERLIN PHARMACAL Co. [1901] pg. 142 - 1110 - Neuralgia - Brown-Sequard pg. 101 - Neuralgic Preferred No. 8 Acetanilid 1 gr. Ext. Cannabis Indica 1-9 gr. Ext. Hyoscyamus 9-40 gr. Ext. Aconite Rt. 1-12 gr. Sod. Bicarbonate 1-10 gr. Camphor Monobromate 1-10 gr. Caffeine 1/8 gr. |
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UPJOHN COMPANY [1910] pg 235 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown Sequard |
Brewer & Co. [1912-1913] pg. 142 - Neuralgic - Brown-Sequard |
BRISTOL MYERS Co. [1910] pg. 81 - Neuralgic Idiopathic - Brown-Sequard |
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H. A. BROWNELL COMPANY [1899] pg. 21 - Neuralgic (Brown-Sequard) |
BURROUGH BROS. Mfg. Co. [1905] pg. 37 - Neuralgic, Brown-Sequard |
ELI LILLY & [1925] pg. 93 - Neuralgic Brown-Sequard pg. 136 - Neuralgic Brown-Sequard Modified |
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COLUMBUS PHARMACAL Co. [?] pg. 100 - Neuralgic Idiophathic No. 2 - Brown Sequard Ext of Hyoscyamus 1-3 gr. Ext. of Conium 1-3 gr. Ext. of Ignatia 1/4 gr. Ext. of Opium 1.4 gr. Ext. of Aconite 1-6 gr. Ext. of cannabis Indica 1/8 gr. Ext. of Stramonium 1-10 gr. Ext. of Belladonna 1-12 gr. |
CLINTON E. WORDEN & Co. [1899] 214-220 Townsend St., San Francisco, Cal. pg. 242 - Brown-Sequard’s Pills (Neuralgia) Extract henbane 80 parts Extract conium 80 parts Extract Ignatia 60 parts Extract Opium 60 parts Extract Aconite 40 part Extract Cannabis Indi., 30 parts Extract Stramonium 24 parts Extract Belladonna 20 parts |
FREDERICK STEARNS & Co. [1915] pg. 105 - Neuralgia A Idiopathic Brown Sequard’s Pills Extract Hyoscyamus 2-3 gr. Extract Conium 2-3 gr. Extract Ignatia 1-2 gr. Extract Opium 1-2 gr. Extract Aconite 1-3 gr. Extract Cannabis Indica 1-4 gr. Extract Stramonium 1-6 gr. Extract Belladonna 1-6 gr. |
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ELI LILLY & Co. [1936] pg. 249 - Pills Neuralgic Brown-Sequard |
E.L. PATCH COMPANY [1906] pg. 40 - Neuralgic Brown-Sequard pg. 139- Neuralgic Brown Seqard |
FRAZER TABLETS [?] pg. 94 - Neuralgia Brown Sequard |
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SCHMID CHEMICAL pg. 94 - Tablet Neuralgic (Brown Sequard) |
HANCE BROTHERS & WHITE [1909] pg 77 - Neuralgic Brown Sequard |
Maltbie Chemical co. [1914] pg 17 - Neuralgia Brown Sequrd |
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McKESSON & ROBBINS [1918] pg 67/68 - pills Neuralgic brown sequard pg 96 - tablet Neuralgic Brown Sequard |
H.K. MULFORD [1921] pg. 147 - Neuralgia Brown Sequard |
MONTGOMERY WARDS & CO. [NO JOKE, IT’S THAT MONTGOMERY WARDS] – 1902 Neuraigic Idiopathic, (Brown-Sequard) – pg. 15 |
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THE HARVEY Co. [1923] Pills & Granules Neuralgia, Brown-Sequard - pg. 21 |
HANCE BROTHERS & WHITE [1881 Philadelphia] Neuralgic, Idiopath (Brown-Sequard) - pg. 35 |
NATIONAL DRUG Co. [1931] pg. 18 - Neuralgia Idiopathic - Brown Sequard |
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NELSON BAKER & Co. [1902] pg 89 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown Sequard pg 126 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown-Sequard pg 150 - Neuralgic, Idiopathic Brown-Sequard |
NORWICH PHARMACAL Co. [1913/1914] pg 13 - Neuralgic Idiopathic - Brown-Sequard pill pg 75 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown-Sequard |
NORWICH PHARMACAL Co. [1906] Neuraigic, idiopathic (brown sequard)- pg. 19 Neuralgic idiopathic (brown sequard) - pg. 71 |
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PARKE DAVIS [1894] pg 269 - pill Neuralgic Idiopathic - Brown Sequards pg 368 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown-Sequard |
PITMAN MYERS Co. [1904] pg 85 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown-Sequard |
W.H. SCHIEFFEINE & CO. Soluble Pills and Granules [1893] Neuralgic (Brown Sequards) - pg. 41 |
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JOHN WYETH & BROTHERS [1925] pg 20 - Neuralgic Brown Sequard Ext. Hyoscyamus 2-3 gr. Ext. Conium 2-3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1-2 gr. Ext. Opium 1-2 gr. Ext. Aconite 1-3 gr. Ext. Cannabis 1-4 gr. Ext. Stramonium 1-5 gr. Ext. Belladonna 1-6 gr. |
SEARLE & HERETH Co. [1904] pg 82 - Neuralgic, Idiopathic - Brown-Sequard Ext. henbane 2-3 gr. Ext. Conium seed 2-3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1-2 gr. Ext Opium 1-2 gr. Ext. Aconite Leaves 1-3 gr. Extr. Cannabis Indica 1-4 gr. Ext. Stramonium seed 1-5 gr. Ext. Belladonna leaves 1-6 gr. |
SCHIEFFELIN & Co. [1904] pg 42 - Neuralgic Dr. Brown Sequard Ext Hyoscyami 2-3 gr. Ext. Conii 2-8 gr. Ext. Ignat Amara 1-2 gr. Ext Opii 1-2 gr. Ext Aconitit Fol. 1-3 gr. Ext Cannab. Ind. 1-4 gr. Ext. Stramon. Fol 1-5 Ext Belladonna Flo. 1-6 gr. pg 63 - Neuralgic Brown-Sequard |
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SHARP & DOHME [1925] pg 70 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown Sequard |
SMITH KLINE FRENCH [1906]
pg 102 - Neuralgic Brown -Sequard |
SQUIBB'S [1919] pg 381 - tablets Neuralgic Brown Sequard pg 381 - tablets Neuralgic Brown Sequard |
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HENRY WAMPOLE [1906] pg 120 - Neuralgic Brown Sequard pg 198 - Neuralgic Brown Sequard tablet pg 199 - Neuralgic improved tablet |
Wm. S. MERRELL CHEMICAL Co. [1910] pg 34 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown Sequard pg 77 - Neuralgic Idiopathic Brown Sequard |
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WEEKS DRUG & CHEMICAL CO. pg. 122 - Nerualgic (Brown Seuqard) Ext. Henbane 2/3 gr. Ext. Conium 2/3 gr. Ext. Ignata 1/2 gr. Ext. Opium 1/2 gr. Ext. Aconite 1/3 gr. Ext. Cannabis Indica 1/4 gr. Ext. Stramonium 1/5 gr. Ext. Belladonna 1/6 gr. pg. 94 - Neuralgic (Brown Sequard) Ext. Henbane 2/3 gr. Ext. Conium 2/3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1/2 gr. Ext. Opium 1/2 gr. Ext. Aconite 1/3 gr. Ext. Cannabis Indica 1/4 gr. Ext. Stramonium 1/5 gr. Ext. Belladonna 1/6 gr. |
HENRY WAMPOLE [1902] pg 45 - Neuralgic Brown Sequard Ext. Hyoscyam 2/3 gr. Ext. Conium 2/3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1/2 gr. Ext. Opium 1/2 gr. Ext. Aconite Lvs., 1/3 gr. Ext. Cannab. Ind. 1/4 gr. Ext. Stramonium 1/5 gr. Ext. Belladonna 1/5 gr. pg 271 - Neuralgic Brown Sequard Ext. Hyoscyam 2/3 gr. Ext. Conium 2/3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1/2 gr. Ext. Opium 1/2 gr. Ext. Aconite Lvs., 1/3 gr. Ext. Cannab. Ind. 1/4 gr. Ext. Stramonium 1/5 gr. Ext. Belladonna 1/5 gr. |
BILLINGS CAPP Co. [1901] pg. 50 - Nerualgic - Brown Sequard’s Ext. Hyoscyamus 2-3 gr. Ext. Conium Fruit 2-3 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1-2 gr. Ext. Stramonium s’d 1-5 gr. Ext. Opium 1-2 gr. Ext. Aconite Lvs., 1-3 gr. Ext. Bellad Lvs., 16 gr. Ext. Cannabis Ind. 1-4 gr. pg. 78 - Neuralgic - Brown Sequard - Tablet Ext. Hyoscyamus 2-3 gr. Ext. Conium 2-3 gr. Ext. Stramonium 1-5 gr. Ext. Ignatia 1-2 gr. Ext Opium 1-2 gr. Ext. Aconite 1-3 gr. Ext Bellad Leaves 1-6 gr. Ext. Cannab Ind. 1-4 gr. |