Nope, 19th century at least

as Opium and as Ludnum, much earier.
Apparently, in the middle ages, peasants in the fens used to buy it on market stalls in Ely. It was used to keep the "fen ague" at bay and the local biddy who looked after all the kids so their parents could work in t fields, put it on dummies as a sedative.

Posted By: CB41, Oct 15, 13:05:01