Primary Source: Opium Substitute

In my research this week I came across a newspaper article from December 1950. The article New Painkiller Praised by Army which was published in the New York Times talked about the new synthetic painkiller the army was using. The article stated that the army had developed a substitute for morphine and that it had become the main battlefield painkiller for the wounded. I found this article extremely helpful in my research of the history of pain management for several reasons. First it tells me that by 1950 opium is being used commonly to treat pain. Second it tells me that it was during the 1950s that scientist began to synthesis pain medication. The article is the first information I have found on when synthesized pain medication-which is the most common form of pain management today-came in to practice.

Source: http://search.proquest.com.prox.miracosta.edu/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/111645230/C917BA5038F94DBCPQ/1?accountid=28060