Black draught

Black draught was a very strong laxative made from senna leaves and was used either as a powder, or as a liquid infusion of the leaves. The liquid infusion usually had some sort of flavoring added and was available as a syrup.

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References in classic literature

"You medical gentlemen must consult which sort of black draught you will prescribe, eh, Mr.

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Smallweed requiring to be repeatedly shaken up like a large black draught.

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He was taken ill in the night - quite prostrate he was - in consequence of Crab; and after being drugged with black draughts and blue pills, to an extent which Demple (whose father was a doctor) said was enough to undermine a horse's constitution, received a caning and six chapters of Greek Testament for refusing to confess.

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