Secret remedies : what they cost and what they contain / based on analyses made for the British Medical Association.

  • British Medical Association.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Secret remedies : what they cost and what they contain / based on analyses made for the British Medical Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/212 (page 12)
    KAY’S LINSEED COMPOUND. This compound is sold by an English provincial company in bottles, price, 9|d., Is. l^d., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., and 11s. per bottle ; the 2s. 9d. size contained a little over 5|- fluid ounces. This preparation is described on the label, wrapper, and in circulars, both as “ Linseed Compound,” which is given as the registered trade mark, and as “ Kay’s Compound Essence of Linseed, Aniseed, Senega, Squill, Tolu, etc.” On the label it is also stated that it contains a preparation of chloroform and morphine, and it is, therefore, labelled Poison. It is Demulcent, Expectorant, Tonic, and Soothing for Colds, Coughs, Asthma, Hoarseness, Difficulty of Breathing, Consumption, and Simple Ailments of the Chest, Throat, and Lungs. In a pamphlet enclosed in the package, this preparation is recom- mended to be taken for Cold, Influenza, Sore Throat and Quinsey, Pulmonary Catarrh, Bronchitis, Asthma, Consumption of the Lungs, Whooping-Cough and Croup. In most of these, however, it is recommended as a “ valuable aid ” rather than a positive cure ; other articles, such as ipecacuanha wine, muriate of ammonia, cod- liver oil, and chemical food, as well as “ Kay’s Linuin Catharticum Pills,” are also recommended ; while under Bronchitis we read : In an acute attack, i.e., when the symptoms are inflammatory with much fever, etc., the family doctor should at once he called in. The directions on the label are as follows ; Scale of Doses f To be modified according to the I age or debility of the Patient. For over 21 years, a teaspoonful in water, at bedtime. „ 12 „ half a teaspoonful „ „ „ 6 „ 15 drops 4 10 >> ^ >> ff 99 99 *, 2 „ 5 ,, ,, Half Doses may be taken three or four times a day. It is not intended for Infants. For serious cases seek medical aid. Analysis showed that 100 parts by measure contained 1‘07 parts of chloroform and 4-3 parts of alcohol, both by measure, and 67 parts of solids ; about 48 parts of the latter consisted of sugar, partly in the form of invert sugar, and the remaining 19 parts consisted prin- cipally of the mucilage of decoction of linseed ; oil of aniseed was present, and evidence was obtained of small quantities of prepara-