About this objectThe collection of 56 glass items, includeing: part of glass syringe, a bottle token from the Australian Defence Forces Canteen, glass inkwells and two glass bottle stoppers.
One bottle contains Mrs Winsow's Soothing Syrup manufactured by The Anglo American Drug Company. Made between 1845 and 1940, the bottle is embossed with the maker and the product it once held:
MRS WINSLOW’S
SOOTHING SYRUP
THE ANGLO AMERICAN DRUG CO
SUCCESSORS TO
CURTIS & PERKINS PROPRIETORS
This medicine was widely advertised as being a cure-all for unsettled babies or ailments such as teething pain, colic or diarrhoea.
Subject and Association KeywordsMrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup
Subject and Association KeywordsCaldwell's Inks
Subject and Association KeywordsPIESSE & LUBIN
Subject and Association DescriptionOne bottle contained "Mrs Winsow's Soothing Syrup" manufactured by The Anglo American Drug Company. Made between 1845 and 1940, the bottle is embossed with the maker and the product it once held:
"MRS WINSLOW’S
SOOTHING SYRUP
THE ANGLO AMERICAN DRUG CO
SUCCESSORS TO
CURTIS & PERKINS PROPRIETORS"
This medicine was widely advertised as being a cure-all for unsettled babies or ailments such as teething pain, colic or diarrhoea.
A news article in the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners Advocate, NSW titled “Poisoned by Winslow’s Soothing Syrup” reports on the death of a child after having been given four teaspoons of the patent medication over two or three days.
On February 17, 1877 it was reported that an inquest was held into the death of a child, Frederick Blake. Two doctors agreed “that the symptoms were those of opium poisoning.”
It seems that the opium content of each bottle of the syrup could vary quite widely. In this case the coroner found that the child "Died from taking an overdose of a preparation known as Winslow's Soothing Syrup..”
