An Illustrated History of Vice

Glass phial containing atropine and cocaine, 1880-1920.
© Science Museum / Science & Society

Description
A boxwood case was used to protect this glass phial which contained a dangerous blend of atropine and cocaine made by Savory and Moore of London. Atropine is a poisonous compound found in deadly nightshade. It is used in medicine as a muscle relaxant.

(See: Drugs in American Society, 5th, 6th, 7th editions, Erich Goode, McGraw-Hill, 1999/2005/2008. Chapter 10 and Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior, Ray and Ksir, Mosby, 1993. Chapters 6, 11, and 12.)