William Brooke O’Shaughnessy

British physician

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July 16, 2026

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William Brooke O'Shaughnessy was a British physician who played a significant role in introducing cannabis to Western medicine. In 1842, after serving in India, he brought cannabis extracts to the United Kingdom. During the Victorian era, these extracts were widely used to treat various ailments, including muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, rheumatism, and convulsions associated with tetanus and rabies. O'Shaughnessy also contributed to the understanding of cholera treatment, suggesting the injection of warm water and salts into veins to replace lost fluids.12

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cholera
Development of treatments
William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, a young British physician, reported in The Lancet (1831) that, on the basis of his studies, he “would not hesitate to inject some ounces of warm water into the veins. I would also, without apprehension, dissolve in that water the mild innocuous…
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William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, a young British physician, reported in The Lancet (1831) that, on the basis of his studies, he “would not hesitate to inject some ounces of warm water into the veins. I would also, without apprehension, dissolve in that water the mild innocuous…
Read More