Chapter IX: Soothing Syrups for Infants

In the previous volume the results of the analysis of various
“soothing powders” for infants were given. “Soothing syrups” also
are very largely used, and are probably usually purchased as “syrup
of aniseed,” etc., or sometimes compounded in accordance with some
domestic recipe. There are, however, a certain number of proprietary
preparations of this class which have a large sale, and in this
chapter we give the results of the analysis of some of the chief of
these. The principal constituent of three out of the four is shown to
be anethol or carvone, added in the form of one or more of the oils
of anise, dill, and caraway. Two of the three syrups are alkaline,
sodium bicarbonate being used in one case, and a mixture of potassium
bicarbonate and magnesium carbonate in the other. The third contains
potassium bromide. The other syrup examined is directed to be rubbed
on the gums, after which it is of course swallowed gradually by the
child; this is a preparation of hydrochloric acid, common salt,
saffron, and honey. Perhaps the most noteworthy point in connection
with these preparations is that one of them, claiming to have had
a large sale for sixty years, is not now of the same composition
as formerly. At one time this preparation contained morphine, as
was proved in courts of law on several occasions when proceedings
under the Pharmacy Acts were taken against unqualified persons for
selling it, and in fact the presence of morphine was admitted by a
statement on the package. Now, however, as our analysis shows, it
contains no morphine, but potassium bromide. Which of these two is
the more unsuitable for giving to infants of a few weeks old is,
for the moment, not the question; the alteration of the composition
of a medicine which continues to be sold under the old name and
with statements as to its having been made for sixty years, shows
how utterly the public is at the mercy of the proprietors of such
preparations, who are at liberty to omit or add ingredients, or to
alter the composition as they please.

MRS. WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP.

This much-advertised preparation is supplied by a firm having addresses in New York and London, at 1s. 1¹⁄₂d. per bottle, containing 1¹⁄₂ fluid ounces.

In a circular enclosed in the package it is stated that:

Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, for children teething, greatly
facilitates the process of teething, by softening the gums, reducing
all inflammation--will allay ALL PAIN and spasmodic action, and is
SURE TO REGULATE THE BOWELS. Depend upon it, mothers, it will give
rest to yourselves, and RELIEF AND HEALTH TO YOUR INFANTS.

We have put up and sold this article for over sixty years, and _can
say in confidence and truth_, of it, what we have never been able
to say of any other medicine--NEVER HAS IT FAILED, IN A SINGLE
INSTANCE, TO EFFECT A CURE, when timely used. Never did we know an
instance of dissatisfaction by anyone who used it. On the contrary,
all are delighted with its operations, and speak in terms of highest
commendation of its magical effects and medical virtues....

This valuable preparation is the prescription of one of the MOST
EXPERIENCED AND SKILFUL NURSES in America, and has been used with
_never failing success_ in THOUSANDS OF CASES.

The following statement appears on the label:

This Preparation contains no Poisonous Ingredient and may be used
with Perfect Safety.

A few years ago, however, the package used to bear a statement that “this preparation contains, among other valuable ingredients, a small amount of morphine,” and the presence of morphine to the extent of about 0.08 grain per bottle was proved in court in cases where unqualified persons were prosecuted for selling the syrup. The labels now in use do not contain any such statement, and the analysis shows that morphine is not now present. But the extracts quoted above, as to the article having been sold for sixty years, and to the prescription of a nurse, are such as would lead any one to suppose that its composition is now what it has always been.

The directions on the label are:

For a child under one month old, 6 to 10 drops; three months old,
half a teaspoonful; six months old and upwards, a teaspoonful three
or four times a day. For Dysentery, repeat the above dose every two
hours, until the character of the discharges is changed for the
better.

The syrup was of a straw colour, and flavoured with aniseed. Analysis showed it to contain, in 100 parts by measure:

Potassium bromide 2.0 parts
Alcohol 4.3 parts by measure
Essential oil (anise), about 0.1 part
Sugar 56.5 parts

Emodin was present in small quantity. This substance may be derived from several drugs--for example, senna, rhubarb, cascara sagrada, etc. The evidence which was obtainable pointed to senna as the drug from which it was derived in the present case. A syrup containing 1.2 per cent. (by measure) of the syrup of senna of the _British Pharmacopœia_ was of the same depth of colour and showed about the same proportion of emodin, and agreed in other respects also. No alkaloid was present. The essential oil may have contained a little oil of dill or caraway, the quantity being far too small to be separated. There was some evidence of about 2 per cent. of glycerine, but in presence of so much sugar this could not be positively proved.

WOODWARD’S GRIPE WATER.

This preparation is supplied by a limited company in Nottingham, at 1s. 1¹⁄₂d. per bottle, containing 5 fluid ounces. It is thus described on the label:

Woodward’s Celebrated Gripe Water, or Infant’s Preservative, without
Laudanum, for all disorders of children, viz.: Convulsions, Gripes,
Acidity, Flatulency, Whooping-Cough, and the distressing complaints
incidental to Infants at the period of Cutting their Teeth, allaying
the pain, giving instant relief, and rendering this crisis perfectly
mild and free from danger.

The directions are:

For an infant, half a teaspoonful; two months old, one or two
teaspoonfuls. The dose may be gradually increased.

Analysis showed it to contain, in 100 parts by measure:

Sodium bicarbonate 1.08 part
Essential oil about 0.03 „
Alcohol 3.8 parts by measure
Sugar 20.5 parts

No alkaloid was present. The essential oil appeared to be chiefly oil of caraway, with a little oil of dill, and possibly also of anise.

ATKINSON AND BARKER’S ROYAL INFANTS’ PRESERVATIVE.

This mixture is supplied by a Manchester firm, at 1s. 1¹⁄₂d. per bottle, containing 1¹⁄₂ fluid ounces.

In a circular wrapped round the bottle, this medicine

Is recommended to all Parents, Nurses, and others, who are entrusted
with the management of Children, as a Medicine of real and approved
efficacy, in preventing and removing those disorders to which
Children in their early infancy are most liable, principally
proceeding from a redundancy of acidity in the first passages, as
Wind, the Watery and Dry Gripes, Convulsions, the Frog, etc., to
which so many children fall victims, but which may in general be
prevented by the use of this Medicine. It is also happily calculated
for allaying those excruciating pains which Children suffer in
Cutting their Teeth, and will, by being judiciously used, render this
operation of nature perfectly mild and free from danger. It is also
equally efficacious in many other disorders to which Children are
liable, as the Rickets, Whooping Cough, Measles, etc....

The directions as to dose are:

Children up to a month 5 to 10 drops in warm water
„ 1 to 3 months 10 to 20 „
„ 3 to 6 months 20 to 30 „
„ 6 to 12 months 60 drops, or small teaspoonful
„ 12 months to 3 years 100 „ or moderate-sized teaspoonful

Analysis showed it to contain, in 100 parts by measure:

Potassium bicarbonate 1.75 parts
Magnesium carbonate 5.45 „
Essential oil about 0.06 „
Alcohol 7.0 parts by measure
Sugar 9.9 „
Colouring matter trace.

No alkaloid was present. The essential oil appeared to contain oils of caraway, dill, anise, and almond. The colouring matter did not appear to be of vegetable origin, but showed a yellow colour in alkaline and a pinkish in acid solution, thus agreeing with certain coal-tar dyes.

MRS. JOHNSON’S AMERICAN SOOTHING SYRUP.

This syrup is now supplied by a limited company of dealers in proprietary medicines in London; according to statements in a circular accompanying the bottle, it was formerly made by a Mrs. Jane Johnson. A 1s. 1¹⁄₂d. bottle contained about 70 minims.

It is stated in the circular that:

This remedy has given relief to thousands of children when suffering
from the pains of teething. As soon as the Syrup is rubbed on the
gums the child will recover, being as innocent as efficacious, and
so pleasant that no child will refuse to let its gums be rubbed with
it. When infants are at the age of four months, though there is no
appearance of teeth, one bottle of the Syrup should be rubbed on the
gums to open the pores. Parents should never be without the Syrup
in the nursery where there are young children; for if a child wakes
in the night with pain in the gums, the Syrup immediately gives
ease, by opening the pores and healing the gums, thereby preventing
Convulsions, Fevers, etc.

The directions on the label are:

Rub the gums with the Syrup two or three times daily for several
minutes.

The syrup was of a deep reddish-yellow colour, and had a strong flavour of saffron. Analysis showed it to contain in 100 parts by measure:

Sodium chloride 5.66 parts.
Hydrochloric acid (_B.P._) 2.33 parts by measure.
Reducing sugars, calculated as glucose 66.6 „
Extractive, colouring, etc. about 5.0 „

A little alcohol was present, but the amount was not determined. The reducing sugars appeared to be present in the form of honey, representing about 85 parts of this; the extractive was partly derived from saffron, and would include the non-saccharine constituents of the honey.