passed legislation to control the distribution of opium and coca. In 1914, only five years before Baum's death, the U.S. peaked in the late 19th century, just around the time Baum wrote The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, grew up and lived in a world where the poppy and its derivative, opium, would have been a common part of everyday life. Excerpt from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (book, published 1900)īoth the book and the film The Wizard of Oz feature iconic scenes of Dorothy, Toto, and the Cowardly Lion (the only flesh and blood members of the gang), lulled to sleep by a field of poisonous poppies.Ī deadly flower might seem curious at first, but poppies, of course, are no ordinary bloom. “The smell of the flowers is killing us all." "If we leave her here she will die," said the Lion. But Dorothy did not know this, nor could she get away from the bright red flowers that were everywhere about so presently her eyes grew heavy and she felt she must sit down to rest and to sleep. "Now it is well known that when there are many of these flowers together their odor is so powerful that anyone who breathes it falls asleep, and if the sleeper is not carried away from the scent of the flowers, he sleeps on and on forever. The Wicked Witch of the West, The Wizard of Oz (movie, released 1939) poppies, poppies, poppies will put them to sleep." "And now my beauties, something with poison in it I think, with poison in it, but attractive to the eye and soothing to the smell.
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