Paregoric

Old bottle of Paregoric, circa 1940s. The large red X on the label indicates that it was classified as an "exempt narcotic", sold without prescription even though it contains morphine.

Paregoric, or camphorated tincture of opium, also known as tinctura opii camphorata, is a traditional patent medicine known for its antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic properties.

According to Goodman and Gilman's 1965 edition, "Paregoric is a 4% opium tincture in which there is also benzoic acid, camphor, and anise oil. ... Paregoric by tradition is used especially for children."[1]

The term "paregoric" has also been used for boiled sweets which contained the substance, in particular the Army & Navy brand.[2][better source needed]

  1. ^ Goodman and Gilman, Pharmacological basis of therapeutics, Macmillan 1965, p. 261.
  2. ^ Hughes, Emma (3 February 2017). "Nine stories behind the great British sweets of your childhood". Country Life. Future plc. Retrieved 7 June 2021.