ARCHIVE OF ADDICTION

An illuminating witness to nearly a century of trials and research on the clinical use of opium and morphine. These twelve titles explore the chemistry, pharmacology, dosage, administration, and effects of opium and its derivatives. When read in chronological order, the overall narrative begins effusive and optimistic about the medicinal applications of the drug, then attempts to reconcile the narcotic's demonstrated danger by establishing a non-toxic dosage, and ends with warnings about abuse, addiction, and overdose. OCLC locates only 1 copy of Nos. 1, 6, 11 and 12 at Harvard; otherwise no copies of the others in America. (truncated)

1. DEROSNE, Charles Louis. Memoire sur l'opium, lu à la Société de Pharmacie. [Paris: n.p., 1803]. 8vo. Modern wrappers. First separate printing. Derosne, a Parisian pharmacist, reports on his experiments in isolating morphine crystals from opium. G&M, 1838.3.

2. GAULAY, Urbain.
Considérations générales sur les effets de l'opium. Paris: Didot Jeune, 1808. 4to. Modern wrappers. Only editionThe author reports the effects of opium in increasing dosage, consequences of habitual use, ailments that can be treated with opium, and opium overdose.
3. SAUVAIRE, J.F. Essai sur l'opium. Montpellier: Jean Martel the Elder, 1809. Uncut and stabbed in contemporary blue wrappers. Author's presentation inscription. Only edition of this dissertation covering the history, chemistry, administration, and effects of opium as well as its applications to particular illnesses. Sauvaire specifically points out its efficacy as a laxative.
4. CLERGUE, François. Essai sur l'opium. Montpellier: Jean Martel the Elder, 1813. 4to. Uncut and stabbed in contemporary plain wrappers. Lengthy presentation inscription from the author to C.J.M. Delpech. Only edition of this dissertation on the properties, administration, and effects of opium on sick patients. The author reports observing lesions on vital organs of animals he injected with the drug.
5. PAUCHET, J.A. Essai sur l'opium considéré particulièrement sou le rapport thérapeutique. Paris: Didot Jeune, 1814. 4to. Later wrappers. Only edition of this dissertation on medical applications of opium. Pauchet specifically describes the chemical preparation of opium for pharmaceutical use, including 13 different tinctures.
6. PASTA, Joseph; BRION, Pierre, tr. De la vertu de l'opium dans les maladies vénériennes. Lyon: J.B. Kindelem for the translator, 1816. 8vo. Uncut and stabbed in contemporary pink wrappers. First French edition, translated from the Italian, of this essay on the specific use of opium to treat venereal disease.
7. DECHARME, J.-Constantin. Thèse de chimie. De l'opium indigène extrait du Pavot-Oeillete, de L'Identité de sa morphine avec celle de l'opium exotique, et de quelques sels nouveaux de morphine. Amiens: T. Jeunet, 1861. 4to. Letterpress tables, 2 lithographed plates of poppy plants and specimens and opium preparation apparati. Original printed blue wrappers. First edition of this exhaustive dissertation on opium, including bibliography, history, chemical composition, and dosage. The author delves into the agricultural methodology of the poppy plant, its harvest and preparation. He also describes the different ways to consume the drug and its effects on the body and nervous system, and particularly the use of isolated morphine "salt."
8. GUIBOURT, Nicolas-Jean-Baptiste-Gaston. Mémoire sur le dosage de l'opium et sur la quantité de morphine. Paris: E. Thunot & Cie., 1862. 8vo. Letterpress tables. Unopened in original printed brown wrappers. Presentation inscription from the author to Dr. Louis Planchon, Director of L'Ecole de Pharmacie de Montpellier. First edition, covering different types of opium found across the world and their chemical properties. The author was particularly interested in the amount of morphine contained in different opium varieties and how it affects the dosage. The final portion of the text investigates the effects of liquid laudanum produced by the English physician Thomas Sydenham.
9. PETIT, Étienne-Arthur. Sur la morphine et les préparations d'opium. Paris: E. Thunot & Cie., 1862. 4to. Modern boards. Author's presentation inscription on title. First edition of this dissertation on the toxicology of morphine derived from opium. Petit also lists different names used for the drug in clinical settings.
10. BARRET, Paul-Emile. Étude sur les preparations Galéniques de l'opium. Paris: Librairie Administratives de Paul Dupont, 1866. 4to. Letterpress tables. Modern wrappers. Presentation inscription from the author to Professor Gaultier de Claubry. First edition of this dissertation on the chemical preparation of pharmaceutical opium into eight different forms of narcotic drugs. A full-page table lists variants of the narcotic with its discoverer, solubility in different liquids, and reactions to other compounds.
11. PETIT, Étienne-Arthur. Sur un procéde de dosage rapide de la morphine dans l'opium. Paris: Arnous de Rivière, 1879. 8vo. Original printed wrappers. First separate printing of this short guide to the dosage of crystalline morphine.
12. PÉCHOLIER, Georges. Quelle est la vertu de l'opium? Paris: Camille Coulet, 1880. 8vo. Original printed blue wrappers. With 2 added sheets of paper about the effects of opium on the heart and blood circulation. First separate printing of this skeptical overview on clinical opium use. While the author accepts the efficacy of opium and its derivatives as a sedative, he points out deleterious effects of the drug including addiction, constricting of blood vessels, overdose, insomnia, depression, and death. In the final paragraph, Pécholier states that habitual use of opium is much more dangerous than that of alcohol (go figure…). (Inventory #: 18850)