Graphic battles in pharmacy (Wellcome Collection, Stories)
secondary literature · 2017
LINK
SUMMARY
Wellcome Collection editorial story on satirical prints attacking patent medicines, including a section on Morison's pills. Cited here as the source entry for the death and dosing specifics and the secret-formula timing, all confirmed by direct fetch of the page: 'In 1836, John MacKenzie, aged 32, was administered 1,000 pills over 20 days by one of Morison's agents, and died'; 'In 1837, 12 deaths caused by excessive doses of Morison's pills were investigated in York'; 'Cases against Morison continued until 1839, but he escaped punishment as his agents bore the brunt of the accusations'; and 'Although their formulation remained secret until the early 20th century, the pills were laxatives and could be fatal if taken in large quantities often recommended.' The story also discusses the C.J. Grant satirical prints in the series. Published 2 November 2017; no individual byline is given.
NOTES
The Wellcome Collection’s ‘Graphic battles in pharmacy’ story is the source entry for the named-death and dosing specifics used in this bundle and for the secret-formula timing. A direct fetch confirmed its statements that John MacKenzie, aged 32, died in 1836 after one of Morison’s agents administered 1,000 pills over twenty days; that twelve deaths from excessive doses were investigated at York in 1837; that cases against Morison continued until 1839 while he escaped punishment as his agents bore the accusations; and that the formulation remained secret until the early twentieth century and the pills could be fatal in the large quantities recommended. It is an institutional editorial source used for these factual specifics; the analytical framing of the disconfirmation rests on Brown (2007).