| Description Of Item | A small cylindrical medicine vial with screw top lid labelled ‘Chlorodyne’. Inside are a number of dark-brownish pills. Ingredients are listed as: Morphine Mur. 1/6 gr., extract of Cannabis Indica ¼, Nitro Glycerin, 1-300 gr., extract of Hyoscyamus, ½ gtt., and oleoresin of Capsicum.
Chlorodyne was first introduced in the 19th century by Dr. J. C. Browne as a ‘secret medicine’, and was used as an anodyne and sedative; many pharmacies tried to replicate this original formula and a few even staked their claim over the title of originator, resulting in ‘some expensive law suits’ (Ford, 1879, p.388). This variation in formulas, none of which appeared to ‘possess the exact qualities of the original preparation’ (Bartholow, 1887, p.549), meant that the exact make-up of Chlorodyne differed pharmacy to pharmacy, but would generally include a mixture of chloroform, sulphuric ether, oil of peppermint, Indian hemp or cannabis Indica, capsicum, hydrocyanic acid, liquorice, murinate of morphia, and syrup (Tanner, 1882, p.346; Bartholow, 1887, p.549). In this case, the H. K. Mulford Company appear to have removed the usual chloroform and hydrocyanic acid, instead adding nitroglycerin and hyoscyamus. Niroglycerin, in its pure form, is most commonly used as an explosive, yet when diluted it has a ‘rapid and powerful effect’ over the vascular system (Hare, 1897, p.283) – it is still used to treat angina pectoris to this day. Hyoscyamus, specifically hyoscyamus niger, is a plant from the nightshade family, native to Europe. In the 19th century it was used as ‘a narcotic, anodyne, sedative, and antispasmodic’, and was employed in a wide variety of illnesses, including: gout, rheumatism, neuralgia, scirrhous, cancer (specifically carcinoma), periostitis trachitis, abscesses, syphilis, genital and urinary infections, colic, and spasmodic disorders (Scudder, 1891, pp.326-327).
The inclusion of cannabis Indica would have intensified Chlorodyne’s anodynic effect, making it a treatment of ‘great value’ in palliative cases (Potter, 1882, p.203). Murinate of morphine, or simply morphine, would have also aided the remedy’s anodynic and sedative effect, while capsicum (chilli peppers) were used throughout this period as a ‘local and arterial stimulant’ (Keating, Hamilton, 1892, p.199). Chlorodyne's use during the 19th century was wide and varied, but it was most commonly prescribed in cases of cough and diarrhoea, including cholera (Ford, 1879, pp.388-389; Bellew, 1887). While it was technically considered a ‘quack’ medicine and ‘not allowed a place in the Pharmacopeias’, it was a favourite of both doctors and patients (Ford, 1879, p389); however, as it was a powerful opiate, extreme care had to be taken when administering doses, particularly to children. Its addictive nature meant that independence on the drug was common, and overdoses, both accidental and deliberate, relatively frequent. This propensity for addiction led to the amount of cannabis and opiates being greatly reduced throughout the 20th century.
References
Bartholow, R. 1887. A practical treatise on materia medica and therapeutics. New York: Appleton.
Ford, S, P. 1879. The American cyclopaedia of domestic medicine and household surgery: a reliable guide for every family, containing, in the plainest language, full descriptions of the various parts of the human body, accounts of the numerous diseases to which man is subject, their causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention, with plain directions how to act in case of accidents and emergencies of every kind : also, full descriptions of the different articles used in medicine and explanations of medical and scientific terms. Chicago: Kingsley.
Hare, H. A. 1897. A text-book of practical therapeutics: with especial reference to the applications of remedial measures to disease and their employment upon a rational basis. Philadelphia: Lee Bros. & Co.
Keating, J. M., Hamilton, H. 1892. A new pronouncing dictionary of medicine: being a voluminous and exhaustive hand-book of medical and scientific terminology, with phonetic pronunciation, accentuation, etymology, etc. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.
Potter, S. O. L. 1882. An index of comparative therapeutics: with tables of differential diagnosis, a pronouncing dose-list in the genitive case, a list of medicines used in homoeopathic practice, memoranda concerning clinical thermometry, incompatibility of medicines, ethics, obstetrics, poisons, anaesthetics, fees, asphyxia, urinary examinations, homoeopathic pharmacology and nomenclature, etc., etc. Chicago: Duncan Bros.
Scudder, J, M. 1891. The American eclectic materia medica and therapeutics. Cincinnati: J. M. Scudder.
Tanner, T, H. 1882. An index of diseases, their symptoms, and treatment: arranged in alphabetical order for easy reference: including also a tabular synopsis of diseases, a very full appendix of formulae, arranged in twenty-one classes, directions for sick-room preparations, the use of mineral waters, climates for invalids, etc. Philadelphia: Blakiston. |