I found an old glass bottle that said Mrs. Wilsons Soothing Syrup...?

Question

... Can anyone tell me what this was used for? The bottle is blue.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Are you sure it didn't say "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup"? If that's the case, it was an old patent medicine that contained morphine...soothing indeed, and it would be totally illegal today.

Answer 2

Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup was an indispensable aid to mothers and child-care workers. Containing one grain (65 mg) of morphine per fluid ounce, it effectively quieted restless infants and small children. It probably also helped mothers relax after a hard day's work. The company used various media to promote their product, including recipe books, calendars, and trade cards.

Although not required to list ingredients until the Pure Food and Drug Act was introduced in 1906, products containing opium and other narcotics were required to pay a special tax on each bottle of "medicine" and to signify that the tax was paid by sealing the unopened bottle with a tax stamp. Note the irony of portraying a child on the narcotic tax stamp used with Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup (c. 1900). (Domestically sold alcoholic beverages and tobacco products still require a tax stamp.)

Hope you find this interesting. I did!

Answer 3

probably sore throats

Answer 4

turn of the century Robo-tripping?

or should that be robo-nodding

anyway that bottle could be collectable.

Answer 5

i'm putting in a quote from an old virginia newspaper that referrs to it as diluted chloroform. there was no FDA back then, so anyone could call anything a medicine.

In the meantime should the spectre of "that petition" disturb the slumbers of any person, it is advised that such person take small doses of "Mrs. Wilson's Soothing Syrup," or diluted Chloroform, besides bathing their feet in warm water, adding half tea-cup full of pure Mustard, "well shaken before taken." A blister might also be applied to the nape of the neck, with a Confederate note attached, with the view of drawing from the brain any false impressions, in regard to "that petition," which may have lodged there. I am happy to observe that you have not secured the services of the "reliable gentleman" to commune with your paper.

Respectfully,

(it's mentioned about halfway down)

Answer 6

Are you sure that it is Wilson or Winslow's.... Winslow's Soothing Syrup Remedy was sold by traveling salesman and in Drug stores.   It's main use was for Teething, some sold it as a childrens cure-all.  It was also advertised or supposed to clean and whiten teeth, sweeten breath, make the gums hard and healthy.  They would advertise Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup - a non-narcotic medicine for children used for indigestion, diarrhowe, constipation and colic.    

An infamous bottle that contained a morphine based syrup that was alleged to have sent babies off to sleep never to wake up. The bottle has embossed wording : Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup Curtis & Perkins Proprietors, with The Anglo American Drug Co. Successors To ,Aqua in color , round, 5 inches tall; also smooth base. Mrs. Charlotte N. Winslow, mother-inlaw of Jeremiah Curtis, for about 30 years was a physician and nurse, principally among children. She compounded a soothing syrup consisting of sulfate or morphia, sodium carbonate, spirits foeniculi, and aqua ammonia, likely to sooth any human or animal, regardless of age. In 1848, Curtis and Benjamin A. Perkins became partners in Bangor, Maine, and started bottling Winslow’s Soothing Syrup in 1849. In 1911, the American Medical Association put out a publication called Nostrums and Quackery. One section called “Baby Killers” and incriminated Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup, Monell’s Teething Syrup, and others.

A fascinating bottle with a controversial history .

The bottles sell now for about $5. It was made by The anglo American Drug Co. Successors to Curtis & Perkins Proprietors. and the bottles are typically approx. 5" tall.  Mrs. Winslows Soothing syrup was .25 cents a bottle then 1886

Hope this all is of help,  you can find advertiseing calenders and books on eBay if you'd like to check prices.  Thanks and have a good day!