WINSLOW'S SYRUP.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4945, 27 January 1877, Page 3

WINSLOW'S SYRUP.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir,—lt was stated, and : taken for granted by the jury at, .the late ;inquest, on the authority of Professor Taylor, that Winslow's syrup contains in each bottle 2 grains of morphia—that is, sufficient to poison an adult. I think this is a wild exaggeration, for if such had been the case, children would have been poisoned every d.iy.for it is a common domestic remedy everywhere. Besides, patent-medicine proprietors, being shrewd business men, are not likely to put such a quantity of a deadly poison into their preparations as would inevitably lead to innumerable prosecutions for manslaughter. But fortunately we are not left to conjecture in the matter; for five years ago a similar scare to the present happened, and in the interests of the public the syrup was analysed at the Colonial Laboratory, to see if it was really so dangerous as asserted,, the result being, according °to Dr. Hector, that morphia was present in a smaller quantity than one-twelfth of a grain to the ounce, instead of 1 grain. In the present instance, before branding the syrup on the second-hand evidence of an antiquated English analysis, it would be only fair to have the preparation that was administered properly analysed ; and if it should' be so found';that either through carelessness or practice any sample of the syrup may contain anything like the quantity mentioned in Taylor's statement, I believe chemists universally 'would : cease keeping so dangerous and deadly a preparation. But, in common justice to'all parties, I say, prove the fact first. I. believe the proprietors of the medicine deny it, and they may have altered the original formula.—l am,'&Ci, :.■•<' ' • Druggist.