Scientific Advances and Pharmacology

The 18th century ushered in the Age of Enlightenment, with increasing scientific study of medicine and chemistry.

Physicians and pharmacists began to isolate active compounds from plants. For example, the expectorant effects of squill and the analgesic properties of opium were studied and utilized more systematically.

The 19th century saw the rise of chemistry, leading to the extraction and synthesis of compounds like codeine and morphine from opium, which proved effective cough suppressants.

Patent Medicines and the Cough Syrup Boom

The Industrial Revolution and advances in printing led to widespread commercialization of patent medicines. Many cough syrups and remedies flooded the market, often marketed directly to the public with extravagant claims.

Unfortunately, these patent medicines were often unregulated and sometimes contained harmful ingredients, such as high levels of alcohol, narcotics, or toxic substances like heroin (before it was known to be addictive).

Despite this, some remedies provided genuine relief, and this era sparked public interest and demand for effective cough treatments shutdown123