Glass bottle with orange label and glass stopper.
Label says "Laudanum: Poison" from "George and Welch Chemists". Also known as Tincture of Opium, is an alcoholic herbal preparation containing approximately 10% powdered opium by weight (the equivalent of 1% morphine).[1] It is reddish-brown in colour and extremely bitter to the taste. Laudanum contains almost all of the opium alkaloids, including morphine and codeine. A potent narcotic by virtue of its high morphine concentration, laudanum was historically used to treat a variety of ailments, but its principal use was as an analgesic and cough suppressant. Until the early 20th century, laudanum was sold without a prescription and was a constituent of many patent medicines. Today, laudanum is strictly regulated and controlled throughout most of the world. Savory 1836, p.52: “This is an extremely convenient preparation of opium. Nineteen drops contain one grain of opium. When judiciously administered, it is one of the most valuable medicines we possess; it removes or abates pain, wherever situated, lessens irritation, and seldom fails to occasion a calmness and quietude in the system. In spasmodic colic, it will often prevent inflammation of the bowels; and in all spasmodic affections, it is more or less employed. The usual dose of laudanum is from five to forty drops. Two drachms of laudanum, mixed with two table-spoonsful of olive, almond, or camphorated oil, will form an excellent liniment for rubbing parts attacked with pains or spasms; and, when applied to the pit of the stomach, it frequently stops violent and continued vomiting. A few drops of laudanum and oil of cloves applied to decayed teeth frequently affords instantaneous relief. For further particulars respecting this article – See Opium. “