Medicine bottle, 'Compound Tincture of Chloroform and Morphine (Chlorodyne)', Burroughs, Wellcome and Company, 1896

Glass bottle with cork stopper, cover and paper label with printed title, 'Compound Tincture of Chloroform and Morphine (Chlorodyne)', the warning, 'Poison', the manufacturer's name, 'Burroughs, Wellcome & Co', and dosage instructions, including, 'Shake the Bottle'.

Chloroform and morphine were used as anaesthetics to dull sensations and to reduce the pain from wounds and surgical procedures.

'Chlorodyne' was developed by Dr John Collis Browne (1819-1884), a British Army surgeon serving in India, for treatment of cholera. The patent medicine became popular as a treatment for other ailments including migraines, diarrhea and insomnia. Its ingredients included laudanum, cannabis and chloroform. Its addictive nature and the risk from overdose led to its demise.

From a Burroughs, Wellcome and Company medical kit, marked to 'Andrew Thorne' (?), 'Grenadier Guards', which was possibly purchased for use during the 3rd Ashanti War (1895-1896).