Secret remedies, what they cost and what they contain, based on analyses made for the British Medical Association.

  • British Medical Association
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Secret remedies, what they cost and what they contain, based on analyses made for the British Medical Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    24/208 (page 16)
    It was described on the label as : A safe, speedy, and effectual remedy for Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Difficulty of Brcatliiiig, Wheezing and Irritation of the Throat, Hooping Cough, Agthma, and Incipient Consumption. In circulars enclosed witb tlie bottle, its use in these varioas complaints was more fully described; and it was stated further that:— It contains no opiates, and is absolutely non-poisonous, and may therefore be taken with safety by the young and aged alike. The directions given on the label were : For Children, one month to one year, 5 to 10 drops in a little water. From one to five years, 10 to 20 drops. From five to ten years, 20 to 30 drops. From ten to fifteen years, 30 drops to one teaspoonful. From fifteen years and upwards, one teaspoonful, gradually increased to three teaspoonfuls, in a wine- glassful of water. Analysis showed that 100 parts by measure contained 65 parts of solid matter, about 58 parts of which consisted of invert sugar, 10-6 parts by volume of alcohol, a trace of chloroform, 1-35 parts of sulphuric acid, and 0 • 3 part of acetic acid; a trace of an aromatic substance probably derived from tolu was present, and a minute trace of alkaloid (much less than 0*001 per cent.); the remainder appeared to consist of extractive and colouring matter, and may have contained the non-saccharine portion of honey if the invert sugar were added in that form. A trace of acetic ether coiild be detected, and it is probable that the acetic acid found represented acetic ether originally added, which had undergone hydrolysis ; in that case the amount of acetic ether originally present would be 2^ minims in 1 fluid ounce. The sulphuric acid found corresponds to 44: minims of the official dilute sulphuric acid in 1 fluid ounce. VENO'S LIGHTNING COUGH CURE. This is prepared by a company in an Enghsh manufacturing town. The price charged is Is. l^d. a bottle, containing 2| fluid ounces. On the label it was stated that: If it fails no other medicine will ever succeed. It should be used in all cases of Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, Pleurisy, Sore Tlu-oat, Hoarseness, Asthma, Croup, Whooping Cough, Influenza, and Catarrh. In most cases it should be used mth. Veuo's Lightning Fluid.]