In what year was cocaine first used for medical purposes?

The use of cocaine for medical purposes can be traced back to 1884 when it was introduced by Austrian physician Sigmund Freud. Freud was one of the first to study the effects of cocaine and advocated its potential therapeutic uses, particularly in psychology and for alleviating pain. He used cocaine to treat various ailments, and it was initially popular among some medical practitioners. This historical context is significant as it highlights the early recognition of cocaine's potential in medicine, even before the more widespread understanding of its addictive properties and negative consequences. The other years listed do not correspond to the documented introduction of cocaine in medical treatments, making 1884 the correct choice.