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trying to identify a liquid sedative from 1960s
Can anybody help to identify a liquid sedative/hypnotic medicine used to
drug a child (possible child-abuse case) in the mid 1960s? Drug was apparently a clear blue liquid, not a syrup, and may have caused temporary respiratory difficulties directly after swallowing. Thanks. -- RosieSmith555@hotmail.com |
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Re: trying to identify a liquid sedative from 1960s
On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 23:43:18 +0100, RosieSmith555@hotmail.com wrote:
>Can anybody help to identify a liquid sedative/hypnotic medicine used to >drug a child (possible child-abuse case) in the mid 1960s? Drug was >apparently a clear blue liquid, not a syrup, and may have caused >temporary respiratory difficulties directly after swallowing. Chloral Hydrate? -- Peter Parry. http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/ |
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Re: trying to identify a liquid sedative from 1960s
Peter Parry <peter@wpp.ltd.uk> wrote in message news:<rrhblvgu4bt39ak36pf2po98d3s8fhlt1j@4ax.com>. ..
> On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 23:43:18 +0100, RosieSmith555@hotmail.com wrote: > > >Can anybody help to identify a liquid sedative/hypnotic medicine used to > >drug a child (possible child-abuse case) in the mid 1960s? Drug was > >apparently a clear blue liquid, not a syrup, and may have caused > >temporary respiratory difficulties directly after swallowing. > > Chloral Hydrate? Yes, I did wonder. Do you know if this is, or was, available as a blue coloured solution? |
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Re: trying to identify a liquid sedative from 1960s
On 5 Sep 2003 03:46:50 -0700, rosiesmith555@hotmail.com (Rosie Smith)
wrote: >Peter Parry <peter@wpp.ltd.uk> wrote in message news:<rrhblvgu4bt39ak36pf2po98d3s8fhlt1j@4ax.com>. .. >> Chloral Hydrate? > >Yes, I did wonder. Do you know if this is, or was, available as a blue >coloured solution? It was commonly mixed with blackcurrant cordial which would give a purple colour. The unpleasant bitter taste of the Chloral Hydrate may well have made the child think it wasn't a "syrup". Do you know what sort of blue - bright or dark? Any number of things _could_ have been used to dissolve Chloral Hydrate crystals (eg alcohol in the famous "Mickey Finn") and alcohol greatly increases the sedative effect. Chloral Hydrate crystals would have been easy to obtain at that time. -- Peter Parry. http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/ |
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Re: trying to identify a liquid sedative from 1960s
Peter Parry <peter@wpp.ltd.uk> wrote in message news:<p7hhlv4clsprd2gk0ua7q3ea76qbqllt0k@4ax.com>. ..
> On 5 Sep 2003 03:46:50 -0700, rosiesmith555@hotmail.com (Rosie Smith) > wrote: > > >Peter Parry <peter@wpp.ltd.uk> wrote in message news:<rrhblvgu4bt39ak36pf2po98d3s8fhlt1j@4ax.com>. .. > > >> Chloral Hydrate? > > > >Yes, I did wonder. Do you know if this is, or was, available as a blue > >coloured solution? > > It was commonly mixed with blackcurrant cordial which would give a > purple colour. The unpleasant bitter taste of the Chloral Hydrate > may well have made the child think it wasn't a "syrup". Do you know > what sort of blue - bright or dark? > > Any number of things _could_ have been used to dissolve Chloral > Hydrate crystals (eg alcohol in the famous "Mickey Finn") and alcohol > greatly increases the sedative effect. Chloral Hydrate crystals > would have been easy to obtain at that time. The description used was "clear, light blue thin liquid - more turquoise than anything - definitely not sweet, and almost astringent/powerful/fiery in taste". Thanks for your help. Any other info appreciated. Rosie |
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Re: trying to identify a liquid sedative from 1960s
On 6 Sep 2003 02:31:47 -0700, rosiesmith555@hotmail.com (Rosie Smith)
wrote: >Peter Parry <peter@wpp.ltd.uk> wrote in message news:<p7hhlv4clsprd2gk0ua7q3ea76qbqllt0k@4ax.com>. .. > >The description used was "clear, light blue thin liquid - more >turquoise than anything - definitely not sweet, and almost >astringent/powerful/fiery in taste". Chloral Hydrate crystals dissolve very readily in water so almost anything could have been used, even a drop of fountain pen ink - which would give the colour you describe. To speed up the effect they would have been mixed with alcohol which might explain the astringent (chloral hydrate) and fiery (alcohol) taste. You are well into supposition rather than anything more positive by that stage though. -- Peter Parry. http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/ |
