Friedrich Gaedcke | |
---|---|
Born | 5 June 1828 |
Died | 19 September 1890 | (aged 62)
Nationality | German |
Known for | discovering cocaine |
Scientific career | |
Fields | pharmaceutics |
Friedrich Georg Carl (Friedrich) Gaedcke (5 June 1828 – 19 September 1890) was a German chemist. [1] He was the first person to isolate the cocaine alkaloid in 1855. [2] [3]
Gaedcke worked in a pharmacy in Rostock and studied in Rostock between 1850 and 1851. In 1856, he took over a pharmacy in Dömitz which he ran for 34 years. He is described as having made contributions to the pharmaceutical history of Mecklenburg [1]
Working with coca leaves, Gaedcke isolated the cocaine molecule. [3] Gaedcke named the alkaloid “erythroxyline,” and published a description in the journal Archiv der Pharmazie in 1855. [4] [5] He described the alkaloid as being of small crystal molecules with needle-like points on four to six sides. [3] He reported the numbing effects of the molecule on himself following a small tongue test. [3] Gaedcke's research received little attention at the time of its publication but would come to prominence a few years later following further work by Albert Niemann and scientists. [3] He is believed to have carried out his research in the private laboratory of Franz Leopold Sonnenschein. [6]
Friedrich Gaedcke | |
---|---|
Born | 5 June 1828 |
Died | 19 September 1890 | (aged 62)
Nationality | German |
Known for | discovering cocaine |
Scientific career | |
Fields | pharmaceutics |
Friedrich Georg Carl (Friedrich) Gaedcke (5 June 1828 – 19 September 1890) was a German chemist. [1] He was the first person to isolate the cocaine alkaloid in 1855. [2] [3]
Gaedcke worked in a pharmacy in Rostock and studied in Rostock between 1850 and 1851. In 1856, he took over a pharmacy in Dömitz which he ran for 34 years. He is described as having made contributions to the pharmaceutical history of Mecklenburg [1]
Working with coca leaves, Gaedcke isolated the cocaine molecule. [3] Gaedcke named the alkaloid “erythroxyline,” and published a description in the journal Archiv der Pharmazie in 1855. [4] [5] He described the alkaloid as being of small crystal molecules with needle-like points on four to six sides. [3] He reported the numbing effects of the molecule on himself following a small tongue test. [3] Gaedcke's research received little attention at the time of its publication but would come to prominence a few years later following further work by Albert Niemann and scientists. [3] He is believed to have carried out his research in the private laboratory of Franz Leopold Sonnenschein. [6]