Laudanum, Cistus ladanifer, in flower. (© Eric and David Hosking/CORBIS)
The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Laudanum refers to a tincture of OPIUM—an alcoholic extract (about 20%) of opium, which contains approximately 10 milligrams per milliliter of morphine. If used at all currently, it would be as an antidiarrheal. The solution is more concentrated than PAREGORIC, and smaller volumes are given; however, their actions are almost identical. At standard doses, they rapidly and effectively treat diarrhea without producing euphoria or analgesia. The solution does contain MORPHINE and other opioid alkaloids and, at higher doses, it can be abused—as it was during the late-nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when it was sold widely as a tonic and cure-all, in shops, by mail order, and by traveling medicine shows. Laudanum use and abuse are often mentioned in novels and plays of and about the period.
Laudanum, Cistus ladanifer, in flower. (© Eric and David Hosking/CORBIS)
BRUNTON, L. L. (1996). Agents affecting gastrointestinal water flux and motility; Emesis and antiematics; Bile acids and pancreatic enzymes. In J. G. Hardman et al. (Eds.), The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed. (pp. 917-936). New York: McGraw-Hill.