Anestetici del passato: "spongia soporifera"

Analgesic of the past: spongia soporifera – In order to improve the knowledge of plants used in the past asanalgesic and anaesthetic, the authors refer in the current contribute to results coming from a bibliographical research carriedout on plants which constituted the ingredients of “spongia soporifera”, a preparation made of a see sponge togetherwith concentrated decoctions of medical plants. The authors analyse the species used for the preparation of “spongiasoporifera”, investigating them in historical, botanic, chemical, pharmacological and toxicological aspects.