• Ingredients:

  • 48% alcohol

  • 19 minims of chloroform (a sedative/anesthetic)

  • 1.99 grains of opium (a narcotic used for pain relief and digestive issues)

• Dosage Instructions:

  • Small doses recommended for children, with the caution to dilute with water before use.

• Regulation Note:

  • The product was "Guaranteed by Chamberlain Medicine Co. under the Food and Drugs Act, June 30, 1906."

  • This means it was produced after the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, which required labeling of ingredients but did not yet ban many harmful substances.

Historical Context

• Chamberlain Medicine Co. was a well-known patent medicine company based in Des Moines, Iowa. They produced a variety of over-the-counter remedies, including liniments, cough syrups, and digestive treatments.

• Chamberlain’s Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhea Remedy was marketed as a cure for stomach ailments, particularly diarrhea, which was a common and sometimes deadly condition in the early 1900s.

• Many patent medicines of this era contained high alcohol and opium content, making them addictive and potentially dangerous. By the 1930s–1940s, regulations had tightened, leading to the decline of such formulations.