This fluid, prepared by a London maker, is sold in bottles, price, 1s. 1½d., 2s. 3d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. per bottle; the 2s. 3d. size contained a little over 3 fluid ounces.
In a circular enclosed with the bottle it was stated that:
This old and invaluable Medicine has the extraordinary property of immediately relieving Coughs, Colds, Bronchitis, Hoarseness, Difficulty of Breathing, and Huskiness in the Throat. It operates by dissolving the congealed Phlegm, and thus promotes free expectoration....
In Asthma, Chronic Cough, Influenza, Difficulty of Breathing, etc., no pen can describe the wonders that have been wrought by this deservedly popular preparation.
The directions for use were:
For a Grown Person a teaspoonful two or three times a day. For a child about 8 years old, 20 drops; and 12 years, 40 drops.
N.B.—Grown persons as well as children should take it in a little gruel or warm water; or saturate a lump of sugar with the above quantities is a pleasant way of taking it.
Analysis showed that 100 parts by measure contained 1·8 parts of benzoic acid, about 4·2 parts of extract of liquorice, and 2 parts of sugar, 40 parts by volume of alcohol, and enough oil of aniseed to give a strong aniseed flavour; a very small quantity of an aromatic resin, apparently benzoin, was also found, and 0·012 per cent. of alkaloid. This alkaloid resembled morphine in its behaviour to solvents, by which all the commoner alkaloids were excluded; but other tests showed that it was not morphine, and it is possible that it was a morphine derivative, such as dionine or peronine, but it was not found practicable to establish its exact identity owing to the smallness of the amount. Powell’s Balsam of Aniseed has, in the past, been the subject of legal proceedings on several occasions, and evidence has been brought in those proceedings proving that it contained morphine; so that it would seem that its composition has been changed since then.
Dr. KILMER’S INDIAN COUGH CURE.
This preparation, stated to be made in U.S.A., is advertised from an address in London. The price is 1s. 1½d. a bottle, containing 3 fluid ounces.