1906-

American physician who began using the drug reserpine after observing its use as snakeroot in India. Reserpine was first used as a medicine for high blood pressure, one of the first successful drugs to be so used. It was later found to be a tranquilizer, the first to be found, and it was subsequently used in psychiatric treatment, as well. Although eventually displaced by more effective drugs in both arenas, many patients were served well by reserpine.