Richard C. Gill (c.1901-1958) was best known for an expedition to describe the preparation of curare, and bring back samples, in the 1930s.[1] He also published a book describing his expedition.[2]
He had studied medicine, but became a rubber salesman.[1] Unemployment in the 1920s led him to move to the Ecuadorian Andes, where he developed an interest in ethnobotany. This interest was enhanced when he developed multiple sclerosis. Given his experiences in Ecuador, he set up an expedition to obtain and describe the preparation of curare.
Walking with a stick, Gill re-entered the Ecuadorian jungle in 1938. With him were his wife, 75 porters, 36 mules, 12 canoes and quantities of equipment and goods to trade. They headed east, deep into the Amazon basin. At times, they had to blindfold the mules to get them across swaying suspension bridges. At others, they braved white-water rapids. Eventually the expedition set up a base camp close to a village. Because Gill was known and trusted, the people agreed to prepare curare for him in exchange for cloth, knives and other goods. Gill noted which plants were gathered for the curare mixture and took samples of each, along with scores of others that he thought might have medical uses
The botanical specimens were sent to the New York Botanical Garden while the twenty-five pounds of crude curare were offered to Squibb for analysis.[3][4]
Referencesedit
^ abcKemp, Christopher (17 January 2018). "The Amazonian arrow poison that made modern anaesthesia". New Scientist (3161).
^Gill, Richard C. (1940). White Water and Black Magic. Henry Holt and Company.
^Humble, RM (December 1982). "The Gill-Merrill expedition: penultimate chapter in the curare story". Anesthesiology. 57 (6): 519–26. doi:10.1097/00000542-198212000-00014. PMID 6756214. S2CID 45182321.
^Raghavendra, T (July 2002). "Neuromuscular blocking drugs: discovery and development". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 95 (7): 363–7. doi:10.1177/014107680209500713. PMC1279945. PMID 12091515.
External linksedit
How Ecuadorians made "the flying death", or curare on YouTube
This article about an American botanist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
richard, gill, plant, collector, richard, gill, 1901, 1958, best, known, expedition, describe, preparation, curare, bring, back, samples, 1930s, also, published, book, describing, expedition, studied, medicine, became, rubber, salesman, unemployment, 1920s, mo. Richard C Gill c 1901 1958 was best known for an expedition to describe the preparation of curare and bring back samples in the 1930s 1 He also published a book describing his expedition 2 He had studied medicine but became a rubber salesman 1 Unemployment in the 1920s led him to move to the Ecuadorian Andes where he developed an interest in ethnobotany This interest was enhanced when he developed multiple sclerosis Given his experiences in Ecuador he set up an expedition to obtain and describe the preparation of curare Walking with a stick Gill re entered the Ecuadorian jungle in 1938 With him were his wife 75 porters 36 mules 12 canoes and quantities of equipment and goods to trade They headed east deep into the Amazon basin At times they had to blindfold the mules to get them across swaying suspension bridges At others they braved white water rapids Eventually the expedition set up a base camp close to a village Because Gill was known and trusted the people agreed to prepare curare for him in exchange for cloth knives and other goods Gill noted which plants were gathered for the curare mixture and took samples of each along with scores of others that he thought might have medical uses Kemp 2018 1 The botanical specimens were sent to the New York Botanical Garden while the twenty five pounds of crude curare were offered to Squibb for analysis 3 4 References edit a b c Kemp Christopher 17 January 2018 The Amazonian arrow poison that made modern anaesthesia New Scientist 3161 Gill Richard C 1940 White Water and Black Magic Henry Holt and Company Humble RM December 1982 The Gill Merrill expedition penultimate chapter in the curare story Anesthesiology 57 6 519 26 doi 10 1097 00000542 198212000 00014 PMID 6756214 S2CID 45182321 Raghavendra T July 2002 Neuromuscular blocking drugs discovery and development Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 95 7 363 7 doi 10 1177 014107680209500713 PMC 1279945 PMID 12091515 External links editHow Ecuadorians made the flying death or curare on YouTube nbsp This article about an American botanist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Gill plant collector amp oldid 1166281475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
