Gees Linctus is a cough medicine comprised mainly of an alcohol solution of opium mixed with squill and benzoic acid sweetened with sugar. Gees linctus acts by suppressing the urge to cough, and also as an anti-biotic while the squill is an expectorant and as such helps to clear the bronchial passages by encouraging the mucus to be expelled as sputum. Research Gees Linctus
Benzene, benzine or benzol is a a liquid hydrocarbon obtained from coal-tar or distillate of petroleum obtained from benzol by treating it with sulphuric acid and then distilling, used as a solvent in dry cleaning and painting. Benzene was discovered by Faraday in the oils of portable gas in 1825 and obtained by Mitscherlich from benzoic acid in 1834, and by Mansfield from coal tar in 1848 (he also died as the result of burns sustained while experimenting with benzene). It has the formulae CgHg and is quite colourless, of a peculiar agreeable odour and is used by manufacturers of india-rubber and gutta-percha, on account of its great solvent powers, in the preparation of varnishes, also for removing grease from fabrics, gloves, etc. It is the parent substance for most of the aniline dyes and for other substances, e.g. saccharin. It is inflammable, burning with a very smoky flame. Research Benzene
Benzine (benzol) is a compound of hydrogen and carbon, discovered by Faraday in the oils of portable gas in 1825 and obtained by Mitscherlich from benzoic acid in 1834, and by Mansfield from coal tar in 1848 (he also died as the result of burns sustained while experimenting with benzine). Research Benzine
Benzoic acid occurs naturally in berries and vegetables, but is commercially produced by chemical synthesis and used in food as an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent. It may cause migraine attacks when consumed with coal-tar derived dyes. Research Benzoic Acid
Abbreviations
Research Gees Linctus
