Patients can only sympathize.
In the nineteenth century there was no concept of “addiction”, so pharmacies are free to access you can find all kinds of intoxicating substances, which were patented with little or as a panacea almost all diseases. Coca toothpaste recommended to brush your teeth kids, and arsenic increased male potency. This review presents five “miracle”, and “treatment” which often led to death.
1. Arsenic
Since ancient times arsenic was used as a cosmetic. In the nineteenth century, women took baths with arsenic used a cream with a high concentration of this substance. Men buy over the counter pills with arsenic, which allegedly increased the potency. The pharmacy can be purchased dose that is able to send to the light fifty people, just for 1 cent.
2. The laudanum
In the nineteenth century, all pharmacies in the free market could find the Laudanum. This tincture is promoted as a means of plant-based, which should have every family. “Laudanum” is not that other, as an alcoholic tincture containing opium. The best remedy advised to treat almost all diseases, from colds and insomnia, and ending with the cramps and yellow fever. Mom gave a tincture to the kids, so they were calm. However overdosing “Laudanum” is often caused poisoning and lead to death.
3. Hair tonic
Care for women’s hair was quite a profitable business. Various manufacturers are touting all sorts of hair tonic, that’s just their part of the alarming modern citizen. In the bottle was a mixture of lead, cochinilla (crushed insects red), silver nitrate, arsenic and alcohol. In the days of prohibition in the United States, tonic was a great success, and not as a means for hair care.
4. Blood tincture
In Chicago in the 1890’s a patent was granted to the company Bovinine Company for the production of the drug called “Blood.” On the advertising poster depicted a woman, before which stood a glass of red liquid. The woman was in a state of apathy, but after taking the wonder drug, she again felt the spirit. The preparation consisted of glycerin, sodium chloride (salt) and beef blood.
5. Cocaine
In 1886 was born the first Coca-Cola, the main ingredient of which was Coca leaves. The drink was sold as a “tonic for the brain.” In addition, the cocaine obtained from Coca leaves, has been used in other medical purposes. Cocaine the pills prescribed against allergic runny nose, sore throat, headaches or a child’s toothache. In the early 1900s polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert F. Scott, going in the expedition, used cocaine-caffeine tablets more stamina. Cocaine was officially banned in 1914.
