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What was the main active ingredient in "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup" for children?

Question #151666. Asked by BigTriviaDawg.
Last updated Aug 25 2024.
Originally posted Aug 25 2024 8:11 PM.

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psnz star
Answer has 2 votes
psnz star
5 year member
1007 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.
It was morphine and alcohol!
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup was a patent medicine first introduced in the 19th century and marketed to calm small children, clean teeth, freshen breath, and relieve constipation. Its colorful advertising, including trading cards and calendars, showed happy, peaceful babies cradled by beautiful new mothers.

Unknown to parents, each bottle contained a dangerous amount of morphine and alcohol. Patent medicines were treatments that could be purchased without a prescription. They were commercially protected by trademarks and rarely ever patented. Consumers did not know the contents of patent medicines, including the ones they gave their children.
link https://museum.dea.gov/museum-collection/collection-spotlight/artifact/soothing-syrup

It seems that this particular medicine proved fatal for some children.

Response last updated by psnz on Aug 25 2024.
Aug 25 2024, 8:14 PM
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