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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Was William Shakespeare partial to a good deal
more than a pinch of tobacco while composing his sonnets?
While there is no proof the bard delved into narcotics, clay pipe fragments
excavated from his Stratford-upon-Avon home and of the 17th century period
show conclusively that cocaine and myristic acid -- a hallucinogenic
derived from plants, including nutmeg -- were smoked in Shakespeare's England.
The findings, published in the latest issue of the South African Journal of
Science, also show hints of residues of cannabis or marijuana, but this has
not been proven. Nicotine, unsurprisingly, was one of the compounds firmly
identified.
"The cocaine was found in two of the 24 pipe fragments examined, which is
really quite remarkable," Dr. Francis Thackeray, a paleontologist at the
Transvaal Museum in Pretoria who co-write the article, told Reuters.
"The Spanish had access to it at that time in the Americas, but the fact
that it was smoked in England at that time is a first. It is quite a find,"
said Thackeray, who is a distant relative of the famous 19th century
English author.
"Cocaine was recorded in Europe about 200 years ago, but to our knowledge
never this early," he said.
"...apparently no chemical analyzes have been undertaken to determine what
substances other than tobacco may have been smoked in England during the
17th century," the article said.
It said cannabis sativa, the plant from which marijuana is derived, "was
certainly accessible in Elizabethan England for paper, rope, garments and
sails."
The fragments, which were lent to Thackeray by the Shakespeare Birthplace
Trust, were examined with the help of Inspector Tommie van der Merwe of the
South African Police Service's Forensic Science Laboratory.
DRUG-INDUCED POETRY AND PROSE?
The findings are certain to spark tantalizing speculation that England's
favorite writer may have been inspired to write his enduring classics while
under the influence of substances associated with bohemian authors of the
20th century.
"There is some suggestive evidence in Shakespeare's own writing," said
Thackeray.
"In sonnet 76 he refers to a 'noted weed' which may have been a reference
to cannabis," he said.
"In the same sonnet, he refers to 'compounds strange' and the word
compounds is a known reference to drugs," he said.
"But I think Shakespeare, who may have experimented with these substances,
is saying he would rather turn away from them. I would not read it as an
endorsement of drug use," he said.
_________________________________________
Pubdate: Fri, 02 Mar 2001
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2001 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.
Contact: letters@thegazette.southam.ca
Website: Montreal Gazette
Forum: https://forums.canada.com/~montreal
ET TU, BARD?: SHAKESPEARE'S PIPES REVEAL SURPRISING RESIDUES OF DRUGS
Shakespeare might have written on drugs, according to new research.
The poet, a married father of three children, was linked to drug use by
forensic analysis of pipes found in his home at Stratford-upon-Avon.
Although the evidence was circumstantial, scientists from South Africa's
Transvaal Museum in Pretoria said the results were a revelation about drug
use in 17th-century England.
Two of the 24 pipes they tested bore traces of cocaine, the first time the
drug has been found in Europe before the 19th century. Others had traces of
a chemical called myristic acid, a hallucinogenic derived from plants, and
traces of cannabis and tobacco.
``The cocaine found is really quite remarkable,'' said Francis Thackeray, a
paleontologist who co-wrote an article on the discovery in the South
African Journal of Science.
``Cocaine was recorded in Europe about 200 years ago, but to our knowledge
never this early,'' he said.
``The Spanish had access to it at that time in the Americas, but the fact
that it was smoked in England at that time is a first.''
Thackeray is excited about the discovery of cannabis. Although hemp was
widely used for ropes and in printing Shakespeare's early works, there was
little evidence that it was smoked.
Thackeray looks to Shakespeare's work to support the theory that he was a
dopehead as well as a genius.
He said Shakespeare uses complex imagery of darkness, poison and, as in
Sonnet 27, ``a journey in his head,'' with even the dark lady of the
sonnets a possible reference to the creative but dangerous forces of drugs.
``In Sonnet 76,'' Thackeray said, ``he refers to the `invention of a noted
weed,' which may have been a reference to cannabis. In the same sonnet, he
refers to `compounds strange,' and the word compounds is a known reference
to drugs.''
The pipe fragments were examined using gas chromatography with the help of
Thackeray's co-author, Inspector Tommie van der Merwe of the South African
police service's forensic-science laboratory.
They were lent by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which took issue with
the argument.
``People love to come up with reasons for saying Shakespeare was not a
genius,'' said Ann Donnelly, the curator.
She said the specimens were not of sufficient quality to prove the point
either way.
_____________________________________________
Pubdate: Thu, 01 Mar 2001
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2001 BBC
Feedback: Have Your Say - BBC News
Website: Home - BBC News
Forum: BBC NEWS | Talking Point | Forum
BARD 'USED DRUGS FOR INSPIRATION'
Scientists in South Africa have uncovered evidence that Shakespeare might
have been a cannabis user who took the drug as a source of inspiration.
Research published in the South African Journal of Science shows that pipes
dug up from the garden of Shakespeare's home in Stratford upon Avon contain
traces of cannabis.
The study was carried out after a re-reading of the bard's Sonnet number 76
which refers to a "noted weed".
But the conclusions of the scientists have been dismissed by Shakespeare
experts who feel suggestions he used drugs as an aid to writing undermine
the bard's accepted genius.
'Regrettable'
Dr Francis Thackeray, head of palaeontology, at the Transvaal Museum, said:
"This project was initiated in part by a re-reading of Shakespeare's
sonnets, in particular, sonnet number 76, where Shakespeare refers to
'invention in a noted weed'.
"'Weed' can refer to cannabis or marijuana, or dagga as it is known in
South Africa. And 'invention' refers to writing.
"So we put forward a hypothesis that Shakespeare may have used cannabis as
a source of inspiration."
Cannabis was first grown in England in AD400 and in the 16th and 17th
Centuries was used to produce hemp for ships' ropes and canvas. But the
scientists avoided absolute claims that the playwright was a drug user.
"We do not claim that any of the pipes belonged to Shakespeare," said Dr
Thackeray.
'Great genius'
He added: "However, some of the pipes come from the area in which he lived,
and they date from the 17th Century."
Professor Stanley Wells, from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in the UK,
said the research's conclusions were "regrettable".
He said: "I think it's trying to suggest that Shakespeare was not a great
genius, but somebody who produced his writings under an artificial influence.
"There are about eight million cannabis takers in this country at the
present time. Are they producing anything comparable to Shakespeare's
sonnet, I ask myself? I doubt it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pubdate: Thu, 01 Mar 2001
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2001 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact: letters@desnews.com
Address: 30 East 100 South., P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
Website: Salt Lake City and Utah Breaking news, sports, entertainment and news headlines - Deseret News
Author: Reuters News Service
DID SHAKESPEARE SMOKE COCAINE?
JOHANNESBURG - Was William Shakespeare partial to a good deal more than a
pinch of tobacco while composing his sonnets?
While there is no proof the bard delved into narcotics, clay pipe fragments
excavated from his Stratford-upon-Avon home and of the 17th century period
show conclusively that cocaine and myristic acid - a hallucinogenic derived
from plants, including nutmeg - were smoked in Shakespeare's England. The
findings, published in the South African Journal of Science, also show
hints of residues of cannabis or marijuana, but this has not been proven.
Nicotine, unsurprisingly, was one of the compounds firmly identified. "The
cocaine was found in two of the 24 pipe fragments examined, which is really
quite remarkable," Francis Thackeray, a palaeontologist at the Transvaal
Museum in Pretoria who co-write the article, told Reuters. "The Spanish had
access to it at that time in the Americas, but the fact that it was smoked
in England at that time is a first. It is quite a find," said Thackeray,
who is a distant relative of the the famous 19th century English author.
The fragments, which were lent to Thackeray by the Shakespeare Birthplace
Trust, were examined with the help of Inspector Tommie van der Merwe of the
South African Police Service's Forensic Science Laboratory. The findings
are certain to spark tantalizing speculation that England's favorite writer
may have been inspired to write his enduring classics while under the
influence of substances associated with bohemian authors of the 20th century.
"There is some suggestive evidence in Shakespeare's own writing," said
Thackeray. "In sonnet 76 he refers to a 'noted weed,' which may have been a
reference to cannabis," he said.
"In the same sonnet, he refers to 'compounds strange' and the word
compounds is a known reference to drugs," he said.
"But I think Shakespeare, who may have experimented with these substances,
is saying he would rather turn away from them. I would not read it as an
endorsement of drug use," he said.
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Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2001 17
17 -0500
To: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
From: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
Subject: Shakespeare a Doper?
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W88カジノが人気を得ている意味について | W88カジノを徹底解説！W88カジノの攻略法・必勝法
Pipes Show Cocaine [and other psychoactive substances] Smoked in
Shakespeare's England
By Ed Stoddard 03/01/01
more than a pinch of tobacco while composing his sonnets?
While there is no proof the bard delved into narcotics, clay pipe fragments
excavated from his Stratford-upon-Avon home and of the 17th century period
show conclusively that cocaine and myristic acid -- a hallucinogenic
derived from plants, including nutmeg -- were smoked in Shakespeare's England.
The findings, published in the latest issue of the South African Journal of
Science, also show hints of residues of cannabis or marijuana, but this has
not been proven. Nicotine, unsurprisingly, was one of the compounds firmly
identified.
"The cocaine was found in two of the 24 pipe fragments examined, which is
really quite remarkable," Dr. Francis Thackeray, a paleontologist at the
Transvaal Museum in Pretoria who co-write the article, told Reuters.
"The Spanish had access to it at that time in the Americas, but the fact
that it was smoked in England at that time is a first. It is quite a find,"
said Thackeray, who is a distant relative of the famous 19th century
English author.
"Cocaine was recorded in Europe about 200 years ago, but to our knowledge
never this early," he said.
"...apparently no chemical analyzes have been undertaken to determine what
substances other than tobacco may have been smoked in England during the
17th century," the article said.
It said cannabis sativa, the plant from which marijuana is derived, "was
certainly accessible in Elizabethan England for paper, rope, garments and
sails."
The fragments, which were lent to Thackeray by the Shakespeare Birthplace
Trust, were examined with the help of Inspector Tommie van der Merwe of the
South African Police Service's Forensic Science Laboratory.
DRUG-INDUCED POETRY AND PROSE?
The findings are certain to spark tantalizing speculation that England's
favorite writer may have been inspired to write his enduring classics while
under the influence of substances associated with bohemian authors of the
20th century.
"There is some suggestive evidence in Shakespeare's own writing," said
Thackeray.
"In sonnet 76 he refers to a 'noted weed' which may have been a reference
to cannabis," he said.
"In the same sonnet, he refers to 'compounds strange' and the word
compounds is a known reference to drugs," he said.
"But I think Shakespeare, who may have experimented with these substances,
is saying he would rather turn away from them. I would not read it as an
endorsement of drug use," he said.
_________________________________________
Pubdate: Fri, 02 Mar 2001
Source: Montreal Gazette (CN QU)
Copyright: 2001 The Gazette, a division of Southam Inc.
Contact: letters@thegazette.southam.ca
Website: Montreal Gazette
Forum: https://forums.canada.com/~montreal
ET TU, BARD?: SHAKESPEARE'S PIPES REVEAL SURPRISING RESIDUES OF DRUGS
Shakespeare might have written on drugs, according to new research.
The poet, a married father of three children, was linked to drug use by
forensic analysis of pipes found in his home at Stratford-upon-Avon.
Although the evidence was circumstantial, scientists from South Africa's
Transvaal Museum in Pretoria said the results were a revelation about drug
use in 17th-century England.
Two of the 24 pipes they tested bore traces of cocaine, the first time the
drug has been found in Europe before the 19th century. Others had traces of
a chemical called myristic acid, a hallucinogenic derived from plants, and
traces of cannabis and tobacco.
``The cocaine found is really quite remarkable,'' said Francis Thackeray, a
paleontologist who co-wrote an article on the discovery in the South
African Journal of Science.
``Cocaine was recorded in Europe about 200 years ago, but to our knowledge
never this early,'' he said.
``The Spanish had access to it at that time in the Americas, but the fact
that it was smoked in England at that time is a first.''
Thackeray is excited about the discovery of cannabis. Although hemp was
widely used for ropes and in printing Shakespeare's early works, there was
little evidence that it was smoked.
Thackeray looks to Shakespeare's work to support the theory that he was a
dopehead as well as a genius.
He said Shakespeare uses complex imagery of darkness, poison and, as in
Sonnet 27, ``a journey in his head,'' with even the dark lady of the
sonnets a possible reference to the creative but dangerous forces of drugs.
``In Sonnet 76,'' Thackeray said, ``he refers to the `invention of a noted
weed,' which may have been a reference to cannabis. In the same sonnet, he
refers to `compounds strange,' and the word compounds is a known reference
to drugs.''
The pipe fragments were examined using gas chromatography with the help of
Thackeray's co-author, Inspector Tommie van der Merwe of the South African
police service's forensic-science laboratory.
They were lent by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which took issue with
the argument.
``People love to come up with reasons for saying Shakespeare was not a
genius,'' said Ann Donnelly, the curator.
She said the specimens were not of sufficient quality to prove the point
either way.
_____________________________________________
Pubdate: Thu, 01 Mar 2001
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2001 BBC
Feedback: Have Your Say - BBC News
Website: Home - BBC News
Forum: BBC NEWS | Talking Point | Forum
BARD 'USED DRUGS FOR INSPIRATION'
Scientists in South Africa have uncovered evidence that Shakespeare might
have been a cannabis user who took the drug as a source of inspiration.
Research published in the South African Journal of Science shows that pipes
dug up from the garden of Shakespeare's home in Stratford upon Avon contain
traces of cannabis.
The study was carried out after a re-reading of the bard's Sonnet number 76
which refers to a "noted weed".
But the conclusions of the scientists have been dismissed by Shakespeare
experts who feel suggestions he used drugs as an aid to writing undermine
the bard's accepted genius.
'Regrettable'
Dr Francis Thackeray, head of palaeontology, at the Transvaal Museum, said:
"This project was initiated in part by a re-reading of Shakespeare's
sonnets, in particular, sonnet number 76, where Shakespeare refers to
'invention in a noted weed'.
"'Weed' can refer to cannabis or marijuana, or dagga as it is known in
South Africa. And 'invention' refers to writing.
"So we put forward a hypothesis that Shakespeare may have used cannabis as
a source of inspiration."
Cannabis was first grown in England in AD400 and in the 16th and 17th
Centuries was used to produce hemp for ships' ropes and canvas. But the
scientists avoided absolute claims that the playwright was a drug user.
"We do not claim that any of the pipes belonged to Shakespeare," said Dr
Thackeray.
'Great genius'
He added: "However, some of the pipes come from the area in which he lived,
and they date from the 17th Century."
Professor Stanley Wells, from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in the UK,
said the research's conclusions were "regrettable".
He said: "I think it's trying to suggest that Shakespeare was not a great
genius, but somebody who produced his writings under an artificial influence.
"There are about eight million cannabis takers in this country at the
present time. Are they producing anything comparable to Shakespeare's
sonnet, I ask myself? I doubt it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pubdate: Thu, 01 Mar 2001
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2001 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact: letters@desnews.com
Address: 30 East 100 South., P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110
Website: Salt Lake City and Utah Breaking news, sports, entertainment and news headlines - Deseret News
Author: Reuters News Service
DID SHAKESPEARE SMOKE COCAINE?
JOHANNESBURG - Was William Shakespeare partial to a good deal more than a
pinch of tobacco while composing his sonnets?
While there is no proof the bard delved into narcotics, clay pipe fragments
excavated from his Stratford-upon-Avon home and of the 17th century period
show conclusively that cocaine and myristic acid - a hallucinogenic derived
from plants, including nutmeg - were smoked in Shakespeare's England. The
findings, published in the South African Journal of Science, also show
hints of residues of cannabis or marijuana, but this has not been proven.
Nicotine, unsurprisingly, was one of the compounds firmly identified. "The
cocaine was found in two of the 24 pipe fragments examined, which is really
quite remarkable," Francis Thackeray, a palaeontologist at the Transvaal
Museum in Pretoria who co-write the article, told Reuters. "The Spanish had
access to it at that time in the Americas, but the fact that it was smoked
in England at that time is a first. It is quite a find," said Thackeray,
who is a distant relative of the the famous 19th century English author.
The fragments, which were lent to Thackeray by the Shakespeare Birthplace
Trust, were examined with the help of Inspector Tommie van der Merwe of the
South African Police Service's Forensic Science Laboratory. The findings
are certain to spark tantalizing speculation that England's favorite writer
may have been inspired to write his enduring classics while under the
influence of substances associated with bohemian authors of the 20th century.
"There is some suggestive evidence in Shakespeare's own writing," said
Thackeray. "In sonnet 76 he refers to a 'noted weed,' which may have been a
reference to cannabis," he said.
"In the same sonnet, he refers to 'compounds strange' and the word
compounds is a known reference to drugs," he said.
"But I think Shakespeare, who may have experimented with these substances,
is saying he would rather turn away from them. I would not read it as an
endorsement of drug use," he said.
Return-Path: <freematt@coil.com>
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Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2001 17
17 -0500To: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
From: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
Subject: Shakespeare a Doper?
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W88カジノが人気を得ている意味について | W88カジノを徹底解説！W88カジノの攻略法・必勝法
Pipes Show Cocaine [and other psychoactive substances] Smoked in
Shakespeare's England
By Ed Stoddard 03/01/01
