[Autopsy of a common error: the introduction of curare in Europe by W. Raleigh].
One of the most erroneous and repeated assertion in the history of pharmacology for anaesthetists is to say that "the curare was introduced in Europe by Sir Walter Raleigh under the name of ourari". On the contrary, the names to be reminded are: Lawrence Keymis for the first citation of the word ourari, José Gumilla for the word curare and the description of its effects, Charles-Marie de La Condamine for the import of the first known samples. The mistake was initiated by Alexander von Humboldt and developed by the physiologist Münter, a student of Johannes Müller, quoted by Claude Bernard. The repetition of this error was facilitated by the world diffusion of Claude Bernard's work.
Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpital Saint-Antoine, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, 184, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris, France. andre.lienhart@sat.aphp.fr
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Lienhart
D003472:Curare / Q000266:history* / Q000506:poisoning; D005060:Europe; D005101:Expeditions / Q000266:history*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000266:history; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade / Q000266:history; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000266:history* / Q000506:poisoning; D013020:South America
D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D003472:Curare