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This is the infamous Baby Killing Syrup called “Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup”. Bottle is full unopened with original paper covering. Included with 1887 unopened bottle is original trade card and 1869 33 page brochure titled Mrs. Winslow’s Domestic Receipt Book for 1869 (they misspelled Recipe with Receipt). Mr’s Winslow’s Syrup was advertised as soothing tonic that would quite a crying child and most often kill them. The bottle contained a concoction of morphine, opium and secret flavored syrup designed for teething infants so they would not cry. Although directions stated NO Opium or Morphine, it was later found that her secret ingredients did in fact contain these narcotics. After a teaspoon of this concoction, it did knock out the infant and when they awoke they needed more of the narcotic syrup. Collectors refer to this Soothing Syrup as “Baby Killer”. It was first marketed in 1849 and a variety of secret ingredients were used including Opium Morphine, but directions stated otherwise. History preserves that Mrs. Charlotte N. Winslow was a midwife and studied infant teething and other pains. Mrs. Winslow secret ingredients to relief the teething pain were “Sulphate of Morphia, Sodium Carbonate, Spirits of Foeniculi, Opium, Sprits of Foeniculi and Aqua Ammonia”. To her amazement, it did stop the child’s pain and more often their breathing. However, Mrs. Winslow made a lot of money and continued to brew this deadly concoction until the 1890s. Although most quack medical items did not kill, this one did. This will highlight any collection of quack medical items from the 1800s.
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