STEDMAN’S TEETHING POWDERS.
The powders “with one e” are sold from an address in the north of London in boxes, price 1s. 1½., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. The 4s. 6d. box contained 60 powders, and the 11s. box contained 216; the other sizes are stated to contain respectively 9 and 30 powders.
In a circular enclosed in the package it is stated that:
The returns of the Registrar-General tell us that the period of Dentition is one of more than ordinary peril to the child. It is a time of most active development, a time of passing from one mode of being to another, and we may fairly congratulate ourselves when this time of Teething be passed. To pass this time safely, and with the least risk to the child, one of “Stedman’s Teething Powders” should be given about twice a week, during the whole time of Dentition, according to the directions below....
When the bowels are moved regularly and the motions of a natural yellow colour, the Powders had better be omitted for a time, unless great irritability be present, accompanied with restlessness, then a dose had better be given. Diarrhœa will generally be checked by giving a dose at the commencement of the attack.
The directions are:
When the Child is under three months of age, the Third of a Powder only is to be given; from three to six months Half a Powder may be used; when above six months a Whole Powder may be taken.
The average weight of one powder was 2·4 grains; twelve powders weighed singly had weights varying from 2·25 to 2·6 grains. Analysis showed the powder to be composed of:
| Calomel | 29 | per | cent. |
| Sugar of milk | 71 | ” | ” |
A trace of alkaloid was present also, and when extracted from the material of a large number of powders, was found to amount to only 0·016 per cent., or ¹/₂₅₀₀ grain in one powder. This trace of alkaloid did not show the behaviour of morphine, and did not give any reactions characteristic of any of the ordinary alkaloids, so far as it was possible to test for them on the minute amount available.
The estimated cost of the materials for the powders in a 4s. 6d. box is one-third of a penny.