When young Geroge Bailey informed Mr. Gower of his grave error, Gower tested the medicine for poison - by tasting it!?
Wouldn't Gower be poisoning himself?
I guess it's okay if you only taste a tiny amount, and don't let it get into your stomach or circulation.
shareDepending on the drug, you can taste a small sample of it without being effected. That's often how non-corrupt police officers sample cocaine.
See you in hell, candy boys!share
What I would like to know is why Gower had that bottle of poison in the first place.
got to kill rats and such some how....he's a druggist ... people went to them all the time for anything and everything.... it seems... he sold pop and ice cream out front so why not rat poison
I KNOW 2 things that are clear.I'm a great sinner,Christ is a great Savior.
What, do you wear poly/cotton shirts? Who convinced you that you're a total screw-up?
sharearsenic, morphine, mercury to name a few, were all toxic and used in medicines (certainly at that time) so all pharmacists would have carried them at that time.
Let's pray the human race never escapes Earth to spread its iniquity elsewhere. C.S Lewis
In those days, the pharmacist mixed the drugs himself. H probably had a lot of medicines that could be poisonous in large quantities but still necessary to make medicine.
For Instance: Anti-Coagulants (Only using this as an example because not sure if they had them back then)
Presumably the tiny amount he tasted wasn't enough to sicken him.
Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything.
According to Isaac Asimov, King Mithritades of Pontus used to make himself immune to poisons assassins could use against him, by ingesting small amounts of them from time to time.
shareModern folks would be horrified to visit a pharmacy of circa 1915 and see what might've gone into the simplest of prescriptions! The following are prescriptions from a 1915 Australian pharmacy:
NEBULA ASTHMATICA C0MPOSITA
Compound Asthma Spray.
This formula is based upon the analysis of Dr. Wilcox, Analyst to the British Home Office, of an American "asthma specific." It is useful in cases of chronic asthma and hayfever, especially in warding off an impending attack. Warning should be given of the potent nature of the preparation.
Cocaine Hydrochloride................................. 2 grains
Atropine Sulphate......................................... 1 grain
Sodium Nitrite .............................................15 grain
Glycerine .......................................................2 fluid. Drachms
Distilled Water, sufficient to produce 1 fluid oz.
The active principles of cocaine and atropine are certainly therapeutic. Cocaine will constrict the nasal mucous membranes and relieve bronchospasm and atropine reduces secretions in the lungs.
Unfortunately the side effects of this medication would certainly be troublesome; apart from the euphoria induced by the cocaine, there is a risk of increasing blood pressure and its use can cause a syncopal reaction. Atropine has the side effect of dryness of the mouth and blurred vision due to pupillary dilatation. Its use is contraindicated in glaucoma.
NEBULA ADRENALINI
(Aromatic Adrenalin Spray )
Synonyms: Adrenalin Inhalant; Aromatic Solution of Adrenalin..
Adrenaline .....................................................9 grains
Absolute Alcohol .. .. . ...............................2 fl. oz.
Boric Acid, free from iron ..........................44 grains
Hydrochloric Acid a sufficient quantity.
Eucalyptol .................................................1 fl. oz.
Oil of Gaultheria ........................................192 minims
Castor Oil, sufficient to produce 20 fl. oz.
Dissolve the Boric Acid in the Alcohol, mix the Adrenalin with about 12 fl. oz. of the solution, and add very cautiously just sufficient Hydrochloric Acid to dissolve the Adrenalin, applying it by means of a glass rod which is dipped alternately into the Acid and the Alcoholic solution, and shaking the mixture after each addition of Acid. When solution of the Adrenalin is complete, add the remainder of the Absolute Alcohol, then add the Eucalyptol and Oil of Gaultheria made up to the required volume by the addition of Castor Oil, and filter if necessary. It is important that the Alcohol used in preparing this solution should be absolute, that strong Hydrochloric Acid should be used, and no more of the Acid added than is strictly necessary.
Solution of the Adrenalin should be effected in a perfectly dry vessel, with as little exposure to air as possible. This preparation is suitable for use with an atomiser.
Adrenaline inhaled as a mist is an effective method for relieving bronchospasm and was used for many years until the 1960s when more effective and safer bronchodilators became available. Oil of Gaultheria is a synonym for Oil of Wintergreen
MISTURA TUSSI RUBRA.
(Red Cough Mixture. )
Synonym---Linctus Tussi Ruber.
A useful sedative in chronic coughs and bronchitis. Dose 1 to 2 fluid drachms (4 to 8 mils) well diluted.
Diluted Hydrobromic Acid ......................................2 1/2 fl. ozs.
Spirit of Chloroform ...................................................3 fl. ozs. 160 minims
Solution of Morphine Hydrochloride......................................... 400 minims.
Diluted Hydrocyanic Acid ...........................................................80 minims.
Tincture of Cudbear ..................................................................160 minims.
Simple Syrup, sufficient to produce 1 pint
Each fluid drachm contains 7 1/2 minims of Diluted Hydrobromic Acid, 10 minims of Spirit of Chloroform, 21 minims of Solution of Hydrochloride of Morphine and 1/2; minim of Diluted Hydrocyanic Acid.
The active principle of morphine is an effective cough suppressant but is highly addictive and regular users would also become very constipated. Note the use of dilute prussic acid in this preparation, the therapeutic effect is doubtful but its use was widespread during this period.
Tincture of Cudbear (Tinctura Persionis,) is a colouring agent, Cudbear is the common name for the lichen Ochrolechia tartarea and for the colouring matter from this and other lichens. The tincture consists of: Cudbear 2 oz with Alcohol (60%) to 20 fl.oz
PULVIS LOBELIAE COMPOSITUS.
(Compound Lobelia Powder. )
Synonym--Pulvis Stramonii Compositus.
(Asthma Powder)
This powder is used for the relief of asthma, half a teaspoonful, or more, being burned and the fumes inhaled several times daily.
Lobelia, in powder .................................................. 5ozs.
Stramonium leaves, in powder ..................................5 ozs.
Potassium Nitrate .................................................... 5 ozs.
Oil of Anise ....................................................... .. 10 minims.
Distilled Water, boiling ...........................................10 fl. ozs.
Tea Leaves, in powder .............................................. 5 ozs.
Dissolve the Potassium Nitrate in the water; add the solution to the powders previously mixed; thoroughly dry and add the Oil of Anise.
Asthma inhalants that were burnt and then inhaled were in general use until the 1940s when "asthma cigarettes" were readily available. However the irritant effect of inhaling the products of combustion must have negated the antispasmodic effects of the Lobelia and the Stramonium and this method of administrating drugs fell into disuse.
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May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?
There was a brown powder called Asthmador, available at least as late as the 1950s. It was sold in a brown cardboard can. My parents bought some for me, when I was a kid; I was breathing raggedly. They set fire to a small mound of it in a dish; I was in the room and inhaled the fumes, and it relieved my breathing right away. I understand that nothing as effective has come out to replace Asthmador, which was taken off the market because it turned out to be hallucinogenic.😓
shareI would like to know how Old Man Gower seemingly got away with smacking George's bad ear a couple of time...Maybe it was acceptable back then to hit kids without any worries?
shareI just watched the film, and I think the other side of that jar said "nitroglycerine". It is a heart medicine at very low dosages, but it would be deadly in higher amounts (such as a capsule full, as we see in the movie). I assume it has a distinctive taste (bitter, perhaps), but the tiny amount he tasted wouldn't have any ill effects. Remember, it is the dosage that makes the poison!
shareIt looked to me like he barely touched his tongue with it.
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