Empty bottle for opium tincture, London, England, 1880-1940

By

• Science Museum, London

Subject

• bottle,
• controlled drug

Description

Opium tincture or laudanum was a drug used as a pain killer and to induce sleep or drowsiness. A tincture is an alcoholic solution that was taken orally. Laudanum contained opium and morphine, both of which are from the opium poppy and are highly addictive. The drug was made by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co, one of the first large pharmaceutical manufacturers in Britain.

maker: Burroughs Wellcome and Company

Place made: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom