The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7179 p911-936
22-29 December 2001

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Christmas miscellany summary

Seidlitz — the morning-after powder

Seidlitz powders were a very popular remedy to be taken, according to Harmsworth's 'Home Doctor' (c1930), "when from the state of the tongue and the general sensations it may be inferred that one has eaten too much or when the bowels have become a little costive".

A Seidlitz powder was, in fact, two powders — one wrapped in blue paper and one in white paper. The powder in the blue paper, containing sodium potassium tartrate and sodium bicarbonate, was thoroughly dissolved in half a pint (275ml) of water and the contents of the white paper, tartaric acid, added. The resulting solution was drunk while it effervesced.

Derivation of the name

Seidlitz is a small town on the Czech border, 40 miles south of Dresden, in what used to be known as Bohemia. In 1724 a physician from Halle, Frederick Hoffmann, discovered a mineral spring having similar properties to the Epsom well in England, ie, the water (aqua sedlitziana) contained magnesium sulphate (approx 1.3 per cent). It was found that a tumblerful of about half a pint would produce the desired laxative effect. The water was bottled and exported until the middle of the 20th century.

Hooper's Medical Dictionary (1839) stated: "The diseases for which this water is recommended are crudities of the stomach, hypochondriasis, amenorrhoea, and the anomalous complaints succeeding the cessation of the catamenia (menstruation), oedematous tumours of the legs in literary men, haemorrhoidal affections, and scorbutic eruptions." Synonyms for magnesium sulphate have included Seidlitz salt as well as Epsom salt.

The powders

The formula of the powders bore no resemblance whatsoever to the mineral water. Indeed, they did not even contain magnesium sulphate.

The name Seidlitz powder was patented by Thomas Field Savory, chemist, of 136 New Bond Street, London. On 23 August 1815 he obtained a patent for "the combination of a neutral salt or powder which possesses all the properties of the medicinal spring of Seidlitz in Germany, under the name of the Seidlitz Powders". The patent described the production of the ingredients and the resulting formula for a single dose was:

• Sodium potassium tartrate — 120 grains (7.5g)
• Sodium bicarbonate — 40 grains (2.5g)
• Tartaric acid — 40 grains (2.5g)

The patent was revoked in 1823 following Savory's action against Messrs Price and Son, of 4 Leadenhall Street, for an alleged infringement. The court held the patent invalid in consequence of the elaborate directions to be used for the production of the ingredients which were, in fact, all freely available in chemists shops.

In addition to the single-dose powders, the powders were sometimes sold in bulk, a double-ended measure being used to measure the required quantities.

The formula changed little over the years. The dose of tartaric acid was reduced slightly to 38 grains. The powders were first official in the 1890 Addendum to the British Pharmacopoeia 1885, as Effervescent Tartrated Soda Powder (Pulv Sodae Tartaratae Effervescens BP). The last official entry was in the British Pharmaceutical Codex 1973.

Official variations were Double Strength Compound Effervescent Powder (Pulv Efferv Co Dup), containing double the quantity of sodium potassium tartrate and Strong Compound Effervescent Powder (Pulv Efferv Co Fort), containing 50 per cent more sodium potassium tartrate. Pharmaceutical Formulas (1903), gave recipes for lemon-flavoured Seidlitz powders containing oil of lemon, sweetened Seidlitz powders containing saccharin and alkaline Seidlitz powders containing extra sodium bicarbonate.

Similar preparations are available today. Andrews salts and generic "health salts" are probably the nearest in formulation, mainly using magnesium sulphate as the laxative.

Medicines must always be taken with care. An "anonymous epitaph" at Burlington, Massachusetts warns of the dangers of Seidlitz powders:

Here lies the body of Mary Ann Lowder,
She burst while drinking a Seidlitz Powder.
Called from this earth to her heavenly rest
She should have waited 'til it effervesced.