AN IMPROVED ANODYNE COMPOUND
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Barr Mitchell, of 14, Thistle Grove,
South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ANODYNE COMPOUND."
Sealed the 9th April 1874, and dated the 24th December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Barr Mitchell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th December 1878.
I, JAMES BARR MITCHELL, of 14, Thistle Grove, South Kensington,
in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED ANODYNE COMPOUND," to be
as follows:-
My Invention consists in the means of rendering homogeneous the
popular remedy known by the name of "chlorodyne," and at the same
time of greatly enchancing its medicinal efficacy. Chlorodyne is
composed of certain active ingredients or "bases" added in minute
proportions to and dissolved in two kinds of "vehicles," namely, treacle
or some other saccharine fluid and chloroform. These vehicles do not
form a homogeneous compound, the mixture which results from shaking
them together on being allowed to remain in repose separates into two.

page_text: distinct layers. Chlorodyne consequently requires to be well shaken
each time it is administered, and the necessity for this shaking constitutes
a serious defect in it as a remedial agent, since by carelessness the
lighter of the two vehicles may be dispensed almost pure, leaving for
subsequent administration the heavier vehicle at the bottom of the
phial.
I have discovered that the addition to chlorodyne of the substance
called chloral-hydrate has the effect of causing to combine together the
two vehicles which enter into its composition, thereby producing a
homogeneous fluid. This addition moreover has the effect of imparting 1
to the compound the peculiar medicinal properties of chloral-hydrate,
whereby it acquires greatly increased value for the relief of indisposition
and disease.
The proportions wherein I use the two components o fmy compound,
namely, chlorodyne and chloral-hydrate are one part of the former to 1
two parts of the latter. A smaller proportion of chloral-hydrate
however suffices to produce a homogenous preparation. I therefore do
not restrict myself to those proportions; but I prefer them as being
calculated to form a product containing a duly proportionate dose of
chloral-hydrate as well as of chlorodyno.
2
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Barr Mitchell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th June 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BARR MITCHELL, of 14, Thistle Grove, South Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said James Barr Mitchell, Her
special licence that I, the said James Barr Mitchell, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Barr
Mitchell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter

page_text: during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Ohannel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED ANODYNE COMPOUND," upon the condition (amongst others)
5 that I, the said James Barr Mitchell, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Barr Mitchell, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
:-
My Invention consists in the means of rendering homogeneous the
popular medicinal preparation known by the name of "chlorodyne," and
at the same time of greatly enchancing its efficacy. Chlorodyne is
composed of certain active ingredients in pharmaceutical language called
"bases" (namely), hydrocyanic acid and some salt of morphia (to which
are generally added "correctives" in the shape of ether, essential oil, and
tincture of capsicum, and sometimes "adjuvants," such as tincture of
indian hemp or tincture of lobelia) in minute proportions. These are
dissolved in two kinds of menstruum or "vehicle," namely, treacle or
syrup (to which are sometimes added extract of liquorice or mucilage
and burnt sugar, and sometimes all of them) and chloroform. These
vehicles do not form a homogeneous compound, but the mixture which
results from shaking them together on being allowed to remain in repose
separates into two distinct layers. Chlorodyne consequently requires to
be well shaken each time it is administered, and the necessity for this
shaking constitutes a serious defect in it, since by carelessness or haste
the lighter of the two vehicles may be administered alone, leaving for
subsequent administration the heavier vehicle at the bottom of the
phial.
I have discovered that the addition to chlorodyne of the substance
called chloral-hydrate has the effect of causing to combine together the
two vehicles which enter into its composition, thereby producing a
homogeneous fluid. This addition moreover has the effect of imparting

page_text: to the compound the peculiar medicinal properties of chloral-hydrate,
whereby it acquires greatly increased value for the relief of indisposition
and disease.
The proportions in which I use the chlorodyne and chloral-hydrate are
one part of the former to two parts of the latter. A smaller proportion 5
of chloral-hydrate however suffices to produce a homogeneous compound,
I therefore do not restrict myself to those proportions; but I prefer
them as being calculated to form a product containing a duly pro-
portionate dose of chloral-hydrate as well as of chlorodyne.
I do not limit my Invention to the combination of chloral-hydrate 1
with chlorodyne of the usual composition, for I have found that when
the chlorodyne is made with glycerine or with honey instead of with
treacle or syrup, or with part glycerine or honey and part treacle or
syrup, the resulting compound is also homogeneous.
I have also found that the substance called croton-chloral-hydrate 1
when added to the chlorodyne causes the two vehicles which enter into
the composition of the latter to combine and form a homogeneous
compound, croton-chloral-hydrate may therefore be used in lieu of chloral-
hydrate or in combination therewith.
Having described the nature of my said Invention I declare that what 2
I claim as novel in it is the rendering homogeneous of the popular
medicinal preparation called chlorodyne by the addition thereto of
chloral-hydrate or of croton-chloral-hydrate, and the formation thereby
of an improved anodyne compound.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Barr Mitchell, have here- 2
unto set my hand and scal, this Sixteenth day of June, in the
of our Lord One thousand sight hundred and seventy four
Witness,
HUB. AYCKBOURN,
Sol'.,
4, Symonds Inn,
Ohancery Lane.
J. B. MITCHELL. (L.S.)