I have a leatherbound copy of Gunn’s Domestic Medicine, second edition, from 1831. In the section on Opium, Dr. Gunn has a section on Extract Of Garden Lettuce. “This extract, which produces the same effect as opium, was discovered by John Hedman Cox, Professor of the Medical College at Philadelphia, and published by him in the American Philosophical Society’s transactions, in the year 1806.” Gunn goes on to list the useful properties. Remember, opium was as common as flour in 1831. It was a common home remedy, and no prescription was needed. “Garden lettuce is so common a vegetable, and so constantly used at our tables, that it may excite some surprise in my reader that it should produce so valuable and powerful a drug as opium, but such is the fact. And here I may go a step further, and by no means exceed the bounds of truth, by asserting that it is even superior to the imported opium. This is another plain proof, that the Creator has, in his bountiful Providence, bestowed on us a plant which is not only a succulent and nourishing food, but one which in the hours of pain and affliction, will soothe the pains of our suffering systems, and in the sweet oblivion steal upon our senses, until the leaden wings of sleep render us unconscious of the cares of life.”
Dr. Gunn goes on in his grandiloquent style to describe the making of the extract. I’m going to ask the moderators before positng his recipe. Although the process is probably legal, and Dr. Gunn’s copyright surely ran out long ago, it might be irresponsible to publish it. I’ll get back to you.
By the way, the word Creator was bolded in the book, so it is here.
I will point out that keepers of the Iguana call iceberg letteude “crack cocaine for Iguana’s” as they will eat it liek crazy, to the detriment of anything more healthful, and it is not very nutritious. Of course, the lizards may just like the taste and/or texture, but who knows? Besides Cecil, that is.
Heresy! There is no life outside the Straight Dope Message Board. I e-mailed back saying “no don’t post the recipe” because I thought that opium was illegal in the USA (the home of the owners of this message board.)
Opium is illegal here, but lettuce extract is not. All the same, though, I won’t post the recipe, based on your opinion, Arnold. I strive to be a good citizen on this board, and I can see the possibility of a bad result or two.
"“Local 12-year-old breaks leg while stoned on a Straight Dope Message Board recipe” :eek: Nope, I don’t like the sound of that.
Why do these two attributes: “sedative and cough suppressant.” Seem to go together so often? Do sedatives dull the reflex of coughing? Is this really desireable beyond ending the irritating sound and feeling of coughing? :eek:
Most opiates are cough suppressants and most non-opiate cough suppressants (including dextromethorphan, the popular ingredient of Robitussin and most knock-offs) have opiate-like effects. Dextromethorphan itself is a dissociative anesthetic (yes, there is a fully anesthetic dose; no, it’s not pleasant; no, i’ve never taken it), a category of artificial drugs (also including ketamine, PCP and nitrous oxide) that is usually considered to be a pretty close cousin to the opiates category. My mom has some hydrocodone (Vicodin) and codeine lying around from recent surgery (which went A-OK, btw) and was informed by her doctor that both would be quite helpful for her cough. That’s just how it goes: opiates suppress coughs, and cough suppressants opiate.
BTW, I don’t consider opiates or dissociatives to be sedatives. While opiates often tend to have some sedative effects, it’s misleading to actually call them sedatives. Sedatives are a group of artificial drugs whose only real purpose is to sedate: Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, etc. Having taken several drugs from each of the three mentioned categories (sedatives, opiates, dissociatives), I assure you that they’re three different bags, and suggest that it could cause a fair bit of confusion to think of them otherwise.
I would note here my humble opinion that not only would AskNott’s recipe be of great historical interest, but it also sounds completely legal as there’s no controlled substance in iceberg lettuce. I personally would think that if it had any truly significant effects–enough to potentially get the Reader in trouble–it would be illegal or at least popular, neither of which seem to be the case.
