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Duffy's Elixir
2lbs - senna
2 pounds - rhubarb shavings
1 pounds - jalap root
1 pound - caraway seeds
2 pound – anise seeds
4 pounds – sugar
½ pounds - shavings of red sanders(sic)-wood (probably red sandalwood)
Digest these in 10 gallons of spirits of wine for 14 days, and strain for use.
This elixir possesses almost the same qualities as the Compound Tincture of Senna. The above quantities may be reduced to as small a scale use may be required.
Senna is also called cassia bark or Chinese cinnamon and is an expurgative/mild laxative from the caesealpiniaceous plants, cassia genus.
Jalap Root – convolvulaceous plants, yellow powder is purgative
Red Sandalwood – aromatic wood producing dark red dye.
May 1, 1848 Duo Maxwell Oregon Trail Diary -
“Took advantage of the package deal offered to me. What a relief not to have to shop for all that individually! Purchased 1 16-oz. bottle of ammonia, 1 16-oz. box of borax, 1 16-oz. bottle of brandy, 1 4-oz. bottle of calomel, 1 8-oz. bottle of chamomile, 1 4-oz. bottle of camphor, 1 4-oz. bottle of capsicum, 1 16-oz. bottle of castor oil, 1 8-oz. jar of dandelion, 1 8-oz. box of Dover's Powder, 1 8-oz. bottle of Duffy’s Elixir, 1 12-oz. bottle of Epsom salts, 1 8-oz. bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 1 4-oz. bottle of ipecac, 1 16-oz. bottle of isopropyl alcohol, 1 4-oz. box of James Fever Powder, 1 6-oz. bottle of lecithin, 1 8-oz. bottle of linseed oil, 1 12-oz. bottle of magnesia, 1 16-oz. bottle of olive oil, 1 4-oz. bottle of quinine, 1 4-oz. bottle of sarsaparilla, 1 6-oz. bottle of sassafras, 1 4-oz. bottle of spearmint, 1 16-oz. bottle of turpentine, 1 gallon jug of whiskey, 1 8-oz. bottle of witch hazel. Purchased 8 oxen. Purchased 6 canteens, 1 fishing net, 1 hatchet, 1 pail, 1 pan, 1 saw, 1 shovel, 6 water kegs. Purchased 68 pounds of celery. Purchased 10 10-lb. sacks of salt."
Back in 1708, Boston apothecary Nicholas Boone bought the first patent-medicine ad, announcing in the News-Letter that he would be selling Daffy's Elixir Salutis for four shillings and sixpence a bottle.
There were several available pills and powders, castor oil, emulsions, syrups, senna and chamomile tea, as well as patent medicines like "Godfrey's Cordial", "Infant's Quietness", and "Daffy's Elixir", all which contained high levels of laudanum - a mixture of opium derivatives and alcohol. When given in liberal doses, any of these - and many other - tonics would stupefy children for hours. Overworked and underpaid nursemaids and nannies of the era - who perhaps cared for several children in one family, yet only earned a few pounds a year - might sometimes be inclined to quiet their charges with a spoonful or two of sugared gin than with a lullaby or a storybook.