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It is believed that the Incas used anesthesia. Evidence supports the theory that shamans chewed cocoa leaves and drilled holes into the heads of patients (letting evil spirits escape), spitting into the wounds they made. The mixture of cocaine, saliva, and resin numbed the site enough to allow hours of drilling.
Barbituric acid, the base material of barbiturates, was first synthesized in 1863 by Adolph von Bayer. His company later went on to synthesize aspirin for the first time, and Bayer aspirin is still a popular brand today.
In most cases, kidneys can recover from almost complete loss of function, such as in acute kidney (renal) failure.
There are over 65,000 known species of protozoa. About 10,000 species are parasitic.
Thyroid conditions may make getting pregnant impossible.