The Victorian Festival in Oamaru has a theme of medicine which brings me to this item. Its always been called Lanes Emulsion and those locals who were brought up on this will never forget the flavour!
As you can see by some of the ingredients there was creosote in the recipe. Also….The original recipe contained cod liver oil, beechwood creosote, mineral lime, soda, brandy, vitamins, fresh egg yolk and some secret ingredients. It did have 7% alcoholic content which might have made it more palatable! First made in 1894 but banned in 1984 because of the creosote!
I never had it but was asked to have one tb of Maltexo, and a whole glass of yeast that my Mother made in the hot water cupboard overnight! every day!
I had this original bottle and package from about the 1960’s! I can’t open the top even though its got some of the original liquid in it!
Three Good Things:
1. That I can’t open it - I might faint with the vapours!
2. Booked the new novel by Lucinda Riley to read when it arrives\
3. I”ve got a Rolex watch from my late sister - about 1930’s and am interested in the value but can’t find out!
It sounds revolting & lethal stuff to the stomach....creosote, the mind boggles! I can remember having a spoonful of malt extract everyday, it was delicious & we used to queue up for it!
I haven't got going with the book yet, only done a couple of chapters, been too busy & then I drop asleep after a couple of pages.
What a concoction -- with creosote !! -- a kill or cure medicine , no wonder it is banned ! but I used to like the smell of creosote when it was used to preserve wooden fences . I think it must be banned in the UK as you can not see it in any of the fencing paints/ preserves !! A great find though !
Oh I do remember this being around - not sure if I actually tasted it - maybe the creosote killed my memory cells?? But the Maltexo - now that was very cool and much better than the dreaded halibut oil capsules.
Why were we given this stuff? Along with cod liver oil and milk of magnesia this ranks as number 3 in the worst ever flavours of childhood. Your shot brings it all back. Maltexo was yum but we only had it in the winter?
I don't remember having this but do remember maltexo - it was lovely - we were even allowed it on white bread. You had to quickly fold the slice over so it didn't ooze out!
I do remember being threatened with worm tablets 'If you girls don't stop fighting...' How worm tablets would help I'm not sure!
@dide How interesting the stories come here! I think it was only offered on a tablespoon, - actually a piece of bread would not make the slightest difference!
@thistle That sounds so interesting, Joyce! I understand that the packaging is perhaps more important than the original! But do you want to remember what you have forgotten?
Wow- it really makes you wonder what they were thinking- creosote?! And brandy? Well, actually the brandy probably made it possible to swallow the creosote. Fun shot!
I haven't got going with the book yet, only done a couple of chapters, been too busy & then I drop asleep after a couple of pages.
I do remember being threatened with worm tablets 'If you girls don't stop fighting...' How worm tablets would help I'm not sure!