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The root of the Ipecacuanha plant is most commonly used to make syrup of ipecac, a powerful emetic. Scientific name: Psychotria ipecacuanha, family Rubiaceae. Its name comes from the Portuguese i-pe-kaa-guéne, translated as 'road-side sick-making plant.' It's most common in Brazil.
It was introduced to Europe in 1672, by a traveller named Legros. Legros imported some quantity of the root to Paris from South America. In 1680, a Parisian merchant named Garnier possessed some 150 pounds of the substance, and informed a physician named Helvetius of its power in the treatment of dysentery. Helvetius was granted sole right to vend the remedy by Louis XIV, but sold the secret to the French government, who made the formula public in 1688.
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