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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'Of the use of opium among the Turks' by Edward Smyth [Smith]

Reference number: CLP/11i/40

Date: 1696

Description

Smith describes his interactions with a Turk living near Smyrna [İzmir] who habitually eats opium. Smith gave him high-quality opium and observed the effects, including a pleasant mood and energy. The Turk claimed that the opium was necessary for him to carry out his daily life and that it makes him 'fitter for procreation' and sometimes disrupts his sleep. Smith observed that the Turk had a yellow complexion and his gums were worn down.

Subject: Pharmacy

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'Of the use of opium among the Turks'.

Read to the Royal Society on 11 November 1696.

Reference number
CLP/11i/40
Earliest possible date
1696
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
6 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

Edward Smith

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Citation

Edward Smith, Paper, 'Of the use of opium among the Turks' by Edward Smyth [Smith], 1696, CLP/11i/40, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_11i_40/paper-of-the-use-of-opium-among-the-turks-by-edward-smyth-smith, accessed on 21 April 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_11i_40/paper-of-the-use-of-opium-among-the-turks-by-edward-smyth-smith

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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