The past few hundred years have seen some interesting medications up for grabs, particularly those marketed for use by children. Glyco-heroin (see left) was heroin with a bit of glycerin to take the edge of the bitter taste of the opiate.

Sold by a New York company, it was advertised as more effective than codeine or morphine for childhood coughs, asthma and bronchitis. It was claimed that its therapeutic value was rigorously tested (except perhaps its dependency-forming potential!).

Opium given to children

While many of these opiates were taken orally, others were, in effect, smoked. The opium was placed in a heated pan and the vapours then enhaled. What does seem quite incredible today is how these opiates were taken by children.

For example, Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup was used by mothers to calm their babies, and was promoted in recipe books and calendars. Advertising morphine today to help babies sleep would see pharmaceutical companies in a spot of bother with both governments and the public.

Opiates were very common medications, for their pain relief and constipation effects – the latter was particularly useful for dysentery. However, the twentieth century saw better public health measures and other pain relief medications emerge, and opiates gradually lost favour.

Today they are reserved medically for short-term use in pain management, and treatment of opiate dependency.

Cocaine and speed

Other drugs had their turn as well. Cocaine toothache drops were sold over the counter, and to this day, cocaine is used as a dental anaesthetic.

Amphetamines also gained popularity through the twentieth century – today they are best known medically for treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder in children.