The image and the realities of opium use in the later nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries, with special reference to the working-class of Lancashire and Cheshire
Opium has been used by mankind for both non-medical and medical reasons for over 6000 years. It was used by the ancient Greeks for non-medical reasons and by the ancient Egyptians and the Romans for medical reasons. However, with the collapse of the Roman Empire the medical knowledge of opium was lost in Europe for 700 years. Only with the Mohammedan conquests and the return of the Crusaders in the tenth and eleventh centuries was opium reintroduced into Europe. Until the end of the sixteenth century opium was used for its soporific effects. It was not used as an all round medical cure in Europe until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In Britain, however, during the nineteenth century an increasing amount of attention was focused upon opiate use. Interest was initially sparked off by the publication of De Quincey's 'Confessions'. This work highlighted the recreational use of opiates amongst the working-class population in the north of England, especially Manchester. As the century progressed many doctors, pharmacists, M.P.s and upper and middle-class writers began to discuss the dangers of opiate use amongst the working-class population of the north. By the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of
Crane, Bettina Susan
History and use of opium
The image and the realities of opium use in the later nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries, with special reference to the working-class of Lancashire and Cheshire. Opium has been used by mankind for both non-medical and medical reasons for over 6000 years. It was used by the ancient Greeks for non-medical reasons and by the ancient Egyptians and the Romans for medical reasons. However, with the collapse of the Roman Empire the medical knowledge of opium was lost in Europe for 700 years. Only with the Mohammedan conquests and the return of the Crusaders in the tenth and eleventh centuries was opium reintroduced into Europe. Until the end of the sixteenth century opium was used for its soporific effects. It was not used as an all round medical cure in Europe until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In Britain, however, during the nineteenth century an increasing amount of attention was focused upon opiate use. Interest was initially sparked off by the publication of De Quincey's 'Confessions'. This work highlighted the recreational use of opiates amongst the working-class population in the north of England, especially Manchester. As the century progressed many doctors, pharmacists, M.P.s and upper and middle-class writers began to discuss the dangers of opiate use amongst the working-class population of the north. By the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of
image reality opium use special_reference working_class lancashire cheshire opium use mankind non_medical medical reason use ancient_greeks non_medical reason ancient_egyptians romans medical reason however collapse roman_empire medical_knowledge opium lose europe return tenth eleventh_century opium europe opium use effect use round medical cure europe seventeenth britain however increase_amount attention_focus upon use interest initially spark publication work highlight recreational use amongst working_class population north_england especially manchester century progress many doctor mps upper middle_class writer begin discuss danger use amongst working_class population north begin