As a pharmacist’s assistant, Friedrich Serturner was the first chemist to separate morphium (morphine) from opium. In the 18th century opium was a widely available and addictive drug (and as you may have hears it wasn’t only popular for its medical properties). Although his discovery was made in 1805, it wasn’t until after 1815 that morphine became widely available for use. It is due to Serturner’s discovery and continuous research into the effects of morphine that we are able to harness its pain relief qualities today.