[Origins of legislation on narcotics in France].

History of pharmacology intermingled with the history of poisons. The main alkaloids were discovered between 1817 and 1860. In 1845 purchase and sell of poisons were regulated and in 1884 cocaine appeared on the market and heroin in 1898. World War I contributed to the use of heroin and was at the start of toxicomania; the law 1916 made out 3 lists of venomous matters (A.B.C.) and the list B. was that of stupefacient drugs. The strict law will create misunderstanding between ill-patients and drug addicts, physicians and dealers, druggists and drug traffickers.