not by any means the principal ingredient of the preparation. Although I quite see the importance of preventing the indiscriminate use of Morphine, you will observe that the Bill to which I have called attention is so general in its terms that it would prevent persons from using Chlorodyne, or other harmless preparation containing the smallest portion of Morphine. It is with reference to this point that I am now writing.
It is of the utmost importance that residents in hot climates, such as China, should have at their immediate disposal an effective remedy against Cholera, dysentery, or diarrhoea, as it is often impossible for them to obtain prompt medical advice, even if they desired it. Chlorodyne has become an almost universal remedy in the East for these complaints. Many bottles of it have been exported to the East and, so far as I am aware, in no case has any injury resulted from its use.
In every guidebook to the East, there is a recommendation to travellers to provide themselves with Chlorodyne for use in case of need, and I can say without hesitation that thousands of lives have been saved by the timely use of my Father's medicine.
If your Lordship would like further confirmation of the accuracy of my statements upon this point, I should feel greatly obliged if you would make enquiries respecting it of independent persons competent to form an opinion with regard to it.
The Bill to which I have referred, if passed in its present form, would not only render it impossible for persons to sell the medicine, except under medical prescription, but would subject any person who possessed it to fine and imprisonment for merely having it in their possession for use in case of need. I cannot believe that the framers of the Bill had the desire to cause such a state of things, and I earnestly ask you to prevent an enactment which would be injurious to the large population in the East which at present uses the medicine.
There would be no difficulty in altering the Bill so as to control the improper injection of Morphia, without subjecting people to fine and imprisonment merely because they took rational and proper precautions to possess a remedy for immediate use in case of a sudden attack.
I have the honor to be Your Lordship's Obedient Servant,
W. A. Colles Brown
The Marquess of Ripon.
H.Q. My father's Rifle Brigade
The Colonial Office, Downing Street, S.W.