OWBRIDGE’S LUNG TONIC.

This is sold by another English provincial company, price, 1s. 1½d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. a bottle; the 2s. 9d. size contained a little over 6½ fluid ounces.

It is stated on the wrapper that this:

Cures Coughs, Colds, Asthma, Bronchitis, Influenza, and all Affections of the Chest, Throat, and Lungs.

Also,

This Preparation does not contain any Opium, Laudanum, or Morphine, therefore does not require a Poison Label.

A pamphlet was enclosed in the package, from which the following is an extract:

Having once contracted a cold, however slight, it is of the first importance to have it thoroughly and radically removed. To do this it is worse than useless to rely upon a few lozenges, or any of the simple expedients to which many have recourse. Avoid linseed poultices, which are excessively weakening, and highly calculated to make the patient liable to a second, and, perhaps, more severe cold than the first. All that is necessary is to take one dose of the lung tonic in warm water on retiring to rest, and the cold will have disappeared in the morning. The lungs and bronchial tubes will be fortified and invigorated to an extraordinary degree. Should the cough not be quite removed by the first dose, continue according to directions. Cure is quite certain.

The directions on the label were:

Scale of Doses.
Above 14 years one teaspoonful.
6 to 14 years half a teaspoonful.
3 ”  6 ” fifteen drops.
1 ”  3 ” five to seven drops.
6 months to 1 year three to five drops.
Not to be given to a child under Six Months old.

To be repeated 3 or 4 times a day, if necessary. The doses given during the day should be mixed with a little cold water, the one at bedtime in a tablespoonful of warm water.

Analysis showed that 100 parts by measure contained 0·3 part of chloroform and 2 parts of alcohol, both by measure, and 89 parts of solids; about 73 parts of the latter consisted of sugar, rather more than half of which was in the form of invert sugar; it is probable that this had been added in the form of honey, and that the remainder of the solids consisted largely of the non-saccharine portion of the honey. Oils of aniseed and peppermint were present, and evidence was obtained of a very small quantity of a preparation of capsicum. The alkaloids of ipecacuanha were found to the amount of 0·002 per cent.; if these were present in the form of wine of the official strength, this represents:

Ipecacuanha wine  15minims.
Chloroform2”

in each fluid ounce.