Editing Laudanum (section)

== Historical varieties ==
[[File:Old bottle of laudanum (ca. 1950s).jpg|thumb|upright|Italian Sydenham laudanum tincture from the 1950s]]
Several historical varieties of laudanum exist, including [[Paracelsus]]' laudanum, [[Thomas Sydenham|Sydenham]]'s Laudanum (also known as ''tinctura opii crocata''), benzoic laudanum (''tinctura opii benzoica''),<ref>Belgische Farmacopee, 5de uitgave, 1966; part 3.</ref> and deodorized tincture of opium (the most common contemporary formulation), among others. Depending on the version, additional amounts of the substances and additional active ingredients (e.g. [[saffron]], [[sugar]], [[eugenol]]) are added, modifying its effects (e.g., amount of [[sedation]], or [[antitussive]] properties).

There is probably no single reference that lists all the pharmaceutical variations of laudanum that were created and used in different countries during centuries since it was initially formulated. The reasons are that in addition to official variations described in pharmacopeias, pharmacists and drug manufacturers were free to alter such formulas. The alcohol content of Laudanum probably varied substantially; on the labels of turn-of-the-century bottles of Laudanum, alcoholic content is stated as 48%. In contrast, the current version of Laudanum contains about 18% alcohol.

The four variations of laudanum listed here were used in the United States during the late 19th century. The first, from an 1870 publication, is "Best Turkey opium 1 oz., slice, and pour upon it boiling water 1 gill, and work it in a bowl or mortar until it is dissolved; then pour it into the bottle, and with alcohol of 70 percent proof {{1/2}} pt., rinse the dish, adding the alcohol to the preparation, shaking well, and in 24 hours it will be ready for use. Dose—From 10 to 30 drops for adults, according to the strength of the patient, or severity of the pain. Thirty drops of this laudanum will be equal to one grain of opium. And this is a much better way to prepare it than putting the opium into alcohol, or any other spirits alone, for in that case much of the opium does not dissolve."<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Chase AW | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=BETiAAAAMAAJ | title = Dr. Chase's Recipes | location = Ann Arbor, Michigan | publisher = R. A. Beal | date = 1870 | page = 133 }}</ref> The remaining three formulas are copied from an 1890 publication of the day:
# Sydenham's Laudanum:<ref>Thomas Sydenham, an English physician, formulated this version of Laudanum in the 1660s.</ref> "According to the ''Paris Codex'' this is prepared as follows: opium, 2 ounces; saffron, 1 ounce; bruised cinnamon and bruised cloves, each 1 drachm; sherry wine, 1 pint. Mix and macerate for 15 days and filter. Twenty drops are equal to one grain of opium."
#Rousseau's Laudanum: "Dissolve 12 ounces white honey in 3 pounds warm water, and set it aside in a warm place. When fermentation begins add to it a solution of 4 ounces selected opium in 12 ounces water. Let the mixture stand for a month at a temperature of 86° Fahr.; then strain, filter, and evaporate to 10 ounces; finally strain and add 4{{1/2}} ounces proof alcohol. Seven drops of this preparation contain about 1 grain of opium."
#Tincture of Opium (Laudanum), U.S.P., attributed to the ''United States Pharmacoepia of 1863'': "Macerate 2{{1/2}} ounces opium, in moderately fine powder in 1 pint water for 3 days, with frequent agitation. Add 1 pint alcohol, and macerate for 3 days longer. Percolate, and displace 2 pints tincture by adding dilute alcohol in the percolator."<ref>{{cite book | title = Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes | vauthors = Dick WB | edition = Fifth | location = New York | publisher = Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers | date = 1890 | pages = 416, 447 and 472 }}</ref>