Alkaloid use of Ephedra and opium poppies. Also, coca leaves have been used by South American Indians since ancient times. Extracts from plants containing toxic alkaloids, such as aconitine and tubocurarine, were used since antiquity for poisoning arrows. Studies of alkaloids began in the 19th century. In 1804, the German chemist Friedrich Sertürner isolated from opium a "soporific principle" (), which he called "morphium" in honor of Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams; in German and some other Central-European languages, this is still the name of the drug. The term "morphine", used in English and French, was given by the French
When No One Remembers His Name, Does God Retire? When No One Remembers His Name, Does God Retire? "When No One Remembers His Name, Does God Retire?" is a science fiction short story by American writer Orson Scott Card. It only appears in his short story collection "Capitol". As a boy Garol Stipock was a member of the Church of the Undying Voice. One of the main beliefs of this church was that the use of the fictional drug Somec was evil. Shortly after Garol’s great grandfather died the small church broke up. Garol then went to school and as he grew older he decided that God did not