Medicated chocolate? No thanks

Medicated chocolateThis from the Medical Times and Gazette, published in 1869:

From an interesting article on cacao and chocolate, by M. Marchand, in a recent volume of one of the great French Medical dictionaries now in course of publication, we learn that chocolate is much more largely used in France than in this country as an agreeable basis for the administration of various active medicinal agents. Combined with iodide of iron, carbonate of iron, or reduced iron, the medicated chocolate becomes an active tonic, while if associated with Iceland moss it is a useful pectoral medicine.

Iceland moss was thought for a time to be a good remedy for chest ailments.

There are vermifuge chocolates containing Corsican moss, fern-root, bark of the root of the pomegranate, etc.

Vermifuge, or anthelmintic, medicines are those intended to flush out parasitic worms.

CadburyIn intermittent fever chocolat a la quinine, and in dyspepsia chocolates combined with extract of cinchona, of calumba, of gentian, etc., are often prescribed. Purgative chocolates, containing grey powder, jalap, etc., are in common use, and other combinations might be noticed. Of all the medicated chocolates the most important seems to be chocolate with cod-liver oil.

Mmm, tasty.

CadburysFor this preparation the Profession is indebted to M. E. Allais, of Rouen. The Societe de Medecine de la Seine-Inferieure strongly recommends it, and M. Dumenil, who, at their request, drew up a report on its claims to consideration, concludes in these terms: “Cod-liver oil chocolate is a preparation likely to be of great service to Medicine, and deserves to be most strongly encouraged; it conceals as much as need be desired the disagreeable taste of the oil, and facilitates its absorption, as we can now give it in fractional doses.”

Quick, where can I get some?

We have applied to several of the leading London chemists who deal in foreign preparations for M. Allais’ medicated chocolate, but our applications were in vain; it seems to be utterly unknown in this country.

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