The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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1795-1877
French pharmacist known for his research on phyto (plant) chemicals and for discoveries in alkaloid chemistry. Caventou advanced clinical medicine from crude plant extracts to the use of natural and synthetic compounds. The son of a pharmacist, he completed his internship in hospital pharmacy and received an appointment to Saint-Antoine Hospital. From 1817-20 he and fellow scientist Pierre-Joseph Pelletier (1788-1842) discovered many natural products, including chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. They also recognized the nature of morphine, strychnine, and caffeine. Their most dramatic discovery was quinine, a drug derived from the cinchona tree that found use as a treatment for malaria. By age 26 Caventou was established as a gifted investigator and, in 1830, became professor of chemistry, a post he held until his retirement in 1859.