Laudanum and Neuralgia

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Date:1830 - 1900 (c.)

Description:During the Victorian period cures for diseases were often more dangerous than the illness itself.

Laudanum is a notable example of the Victorian cure. Pharmacies could prescribe the dangerous drug over the counter unchecked. It would be taken for many ailments including headaches and menstrual cramps. Some women would even use the drug to obtain a pale complexion, as frailty among women was considered attractive.
However, Laudanum was addictive due to its opium content. Notable addicts were Lord Bryon, Samuel Taylor Coleridge (who wrote the poem Kubla Khan while in a Laudanum induced state), Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats and Edgar Allen Poe. The drug is also mentioned in numerous Victorian books; such as Frankenstein, Dracula and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

Neuralgia was a fairly unknown disease till John Locke in 1677 was asked to help the Countess of Northumberland. Previously numerous doctors had tried to describe the condition but failed to fully understand the illness. Locke was able to decrease the pain the Countess was feeling by treating her with laxative therapy.
Later during the 1700s other doctors built on Locke’s ideas and started to prescribe surgery to help the patient. By 1820 Charles Bell had completed the research by separating the disease from others and actually caused the condition to be named trigeminal neuralgia. The medicine pictured would have been prepared by Dale's Chemist, Stoke-on-Trent from Adams's recipe to 'cure' Neuralgia. What it contained we are unsure!


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

9600s
Wooden Doll
Wooden Doll

Wood has been used to make dolls for centuries. This is a fairly modern doll made ...

1360s
Corporation of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Order Book
Corporation of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Order Book

This book is the oldest book in the museum archives and details the official minutes ...

1680s
The Natural History of Staffordshire by Robert Plot
The Natural History of Staffordshire by Robert Plot

Robert Plot was extremely interested in natural history and consequently became ...

1730s
The works of Virgil translated into English Blank verse with large explanatory notes & critical observations by Joseph Trapp
The works of Virgil translated into English Blank verse with large explanatory notes & critical observations by Joseph Trapp

Joseph Trapp was an English Clergyman, academic, poet and pamphleteer; his achievements ...

1800s
Prattware Coiled Serpent Puzzle Pipe
Prattware Coiled Serpent Puzzle Pipe

This is a rare example of a puzzle pipe. Puzzle pipes date as early as 1750, and ...

1820s
Apedale Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Apedale Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Taken from a print entitled 'The Seat of Richard Edensor Heathcote Esquire'. In ...

1850s
Baby’s Bonnet, late Victorian / early 20th century
Baby’s Bonnet, late Victorian / early 20th century

This bonnet is handmade with a hand sewn ‘M’ on the side, possibly the baby's initial. ...

1870s
Victorian Ivory Wedding Bodice and Skirt
Victorian Ivory Wedding Bodice and Skirt

This garment is a bodice and skirt which would have been typical of the day. It ...

1890s
Minstrel Troupe, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Minstrel Troupe, Newcastle-under-Lyme

The Borough's first 'blackface' Minstrel Troupe. As you can see from the image ...

1920s
Black Evening Bag, c.1920 -1930
Black Evening Bag, c.1920 -1930

This small bag is made out of black crepe fabric with a circular diamante clasp. It ...

1940s
D-Day Landing Flag
D-Day Landing Flag

This flag is from one of the landing crafts used in the D-Day Landings on Tuesday ...

1960s
Mark 1 Spitfire outside Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Mark 1 Spitfire outside Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme

This Mark 1 Spitfire from R.A.F. Bicester was on display outside the Brampton Museum ...

1990s
Clayton Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Clayton Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme

View of World War II Fleet Air Arm barrack blocks. During World War II Clayton ...

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Donor ref:Tm4152/Tm4066 (22/25855)

Source: Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle under Lyme

Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.