Quantum mechanics giving you a headache? Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) has been used for over 100 years for pain, fever and inflammation. Until 1915 aspirin was only available by prescription. Some trivia from Bayer: Bayer Aspirin was the first drug ever to be marketed in tablet form. First marketed in 1899 as a powder, but by 1900 aspirin was being compressed into a water-soluble tablet. This new method eliminated the need to package individual doses in paper bags and thus cut costs by half. Asprin is consumed in a variety of ways. The French prefer suppositiories to pills, the Italians take fizzy forms akin to Alka-Seltzer and the British like asprin powders to be dissolved in water.

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The written material on this page is © 2005, by Michelle M. Francl, mfrancl@brynmawr.edu. It may be reproduced for use in your individual classroom, e.g. on problem sets, but may not be included in materials intended for sale without the express permission of the author. Last updated 14 January 2005. This copyright notice must be included when the material is reproduced. Feedback may be sent to the author at the address given.

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