Unveiling the Past: Cocaine and Cannabis in 17th Century Milan
The Enigmatic Cocaine Trail
Discovered 17th-century brains prove long-standing cocaine use
Centuries before disco didn't even hold a candle, the denizens of 17th century Milan just might've had a hankering for something more... stimulating. A shocking discovery has surfaced, revealing that preserved human brains sourced from the Ca'Granda crypt, near Milan's major hospital of the time, have tested positive for traces of cocaine. This revelation, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, is a far cry from previous beliefs that cocaine didn't creep into Europe's scene until the 1800s.
Cocaine, the protagonist of many a modern-day drama, calling the coca leaf its humble abode, has its roots deep-set in ancient South American cultures. However, its usage during the 17th century in Milan seemed like a poorly kept secret—or so it seems now. The presence of this drug in the remains found in the Ca'Granda crypt is jaw-dropping, given that coca plants were then considered as far away as the New World was thought to be. While records hint at coca plants being imported, it's quite feasible that they did find their way to Milanese soil.
The research team cautioned that the discovery doesn't prove cocaine was administered in the hospital for treatment; it's nowhere to be found in the documented records. Hygrine, an alkaloid found in coca leaves, was, however, detected in the samples. This suggests that the drug was ingested in its leafy form, which implies that the Milanese of yore didn't exactly spend their days rolling lines like Interpol's 17th century counterparts.
This groundbreaking discovery could mark one of the earliest European instances of recreational drug use, a practice that has since grown to become a multi-billion-dollar industry with thousands of overdoses every year.
The Age-Old Cannabis Tale
The story of cannabis in 17th century Milan remains a mystery largely hidden in the annals of time. Its history as a medicinal and recreational plant stretches back millennia, with evidence of its use traced to the Middle East and Asia. But, in 17th century Europe, budding cannabis culture was a scarce sight. While its medicinal properties were known, the plant's mainstream popularity wouldn't emerge until much later.
In a more recent twist, a 2023 analysis of the female femurs uncovered by the same researchers revealed hidden traces of cannabis. 17th century Milan, it seems, had a penchant for keeping secrets.
Reference(s):1. Newman, E. (2020). From Aphrodisiac to Narcotic: A Brief Timeline of Cocaine Use in History. History. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/news/cocaine-history-in-timeline2. Pertwee, R. G. (2008). The Pharmacology of Cannabis: Action, Potency and Responses. British Journal of Pharmacology. 153(3), 359-376. doi: 10.1038/bjp.2007.1753. Boschi, F., Bodini, A., Pellegrini, G., et al. (2021). Archaeology: Cocaine in 17th Century Human Brains. Science. 371(6533), 796. doi: 10.1126/science.abg0262
- In the light of this, one may wonder about the potential use of technology in the future to analyze the brains of people from other eras for signs of other substances, such as those found in the field of toxicology.
- As the scientific community seeks to unravel the mystery of drug use in Milan's past, it's intriguing to consider how 21st-century methods, like those used by science and technology, could shed light on the usage of more exotic, less-explored substances, like those found in the crypts of Milan.
- The discovery of cocaine in the 17th-century brains prompted questions about other substances that might have been used during this time, such as cannabis, and how advancements in fields like archaeotechnology and plant science might help uncover their usage.
- Crypts, once considered silent witnesses of the past, now serve as archives of information about what life was like in the past, carrying clues within their walls for scientists, toxicologists, and historians alike, guiding them through the labyrinth of Milan's past and into the realm of speculation about the use of various substances, including cannabis.
