Notes
This laudanum bottle comes from a larger set in the Henry family medicine chest (01.31.1).
Laudanum, also referred to as "tincture of opium," contains ten percent of opium by weight and is created by dissolving extracts from the opium poppy in ethanol. Opium is a highly addictive substance derived from the seeds and latex of the poppy plant. Laudanum is known as a "whole opium" preparation, as it contains all of the alkaloids found within the latex of the poppy seed pods.
Historically, Laudanum was used as a cough suppressant and a pain medication. Modernly, it is prescribed as an antidiarrheal.
The bottle has a lid (01.31.13b).
This chest and its contents belonged originally to John (1796–1868) and Elvira McClelland Henry (1808–1875) during their years at Red Hill. The chest was passed down in the family to John and Elvira's daughter, Margaret Ann Henry Miller (1827–1881), and then to her daughter, Elvira Henry Miller (1850–1955). It was then given to Rose Miller Gammon Garrett (1946–) through her father, William Miller Gammon Sr. (1900–1970). William Gammon Sr. was a nephew to Elvira Miller. His daughter, Rose Garrett, is a third great-great-granddaughter of Patrick Henry.
On September 4, 2001, Rose Gammon Garrett donated the medicine chest (01.31.1) and its contents (01.31.2-25) to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation.