Reds and whites

The favorite common cold medicine at Ohio State University was the inexpensive and popular R&Ws: three Red capsules containing five grains aspirin and three White capsules containing two grains of quinine. Patients were instructed to alternate every two hours starting with the Red.

A grain is a unit of measurement of mass equal to exactly 64.79891 milligrams. It is basically based upon the mass of a single ideal seed, or grain, of a cereal.

For example, the dosage of a standard 325 mg tablet of aspirin is sometimes described as 5 grains. In that example the grain is approximated to 65 milligrams, although the grain can also be approximated to 60 milligrams, depending on the medication and manufacturer.

While authorities are in agreement that less than 1 grain may be a fatal dose for an adult, the usual fatal dose is 60–100 mg strychnine and is fatal after a period of one to two hours, although lethal doses vary depending on the individual. 

I was interested to find this description by a medical student who in 1896 described the experience of taking strychnine in a letter to The Lancet, a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal:

"Three years ago I was reading for an examination, and feeling 'run down.' I took 10 minims of strychnia solution (B.P.) with the same quantity of dilute phosphoric acid well diluted twice a day. On the second day of taking it, towards the evening, I felt a tightness in the 'facial muscles' and a peculiar metallic taste in the mouth. There was great uneasiness and restlessness, and I felt a desire to walk about and do something rather than sit still and read. I lay on the bed and the calf muscles began to stiffen and jerk. My toes drew up under my feet, and as I moved or turned my head flashes of light kept darting across my eyes. I then knew something serious was developing, so I crawled off the bed and scrambled to a case in my room and got out (fortunately) the bromide of potassium and the chloral. I had no confidence or courage to weigh them, so I guessed the quantity-about 30 gr. [30 grains, about 2 grams] bromide of potassium and 10 gr. chloral-put them in a tumbler with some water, and drank it off. My whole body was in a cold sweat, with anginous attacks in the precordial region, and a feeling of 'going off.' I did not call for medical aid, as I thought that the symptoms were declining. I felt better, but my lower limbs were as cold as ice, and the calf muscles kept tense and were jerking. There was no opisthotonos, only a slight stiffness at the back of the neck. Half an hour later, as I could judge, I took the same quantity of bromide, potassium and chloral– and a little time after I lost consciousness and fell into a 'profound sleep,' awaking in the morning with no unpleasant symptoms, no headache, but a desire 'to be on the move' and a slight feeling of stiffness in the jaw. These worked off during the day."

In October 1852 the Scientific American quoted a letter to The Lancet that stated that camphor is an antidote to strychnine. Strychnine was prescribed in doses of the 1/16 of a grain, to be given three times a day for a man with acute rheumatism.

By mistake the druggist divided the grain into six parts (with sugar) instead of 16 powders. The first dose produced severe twitchings, and the second dose threw him into violent convulsions. The doctor was called again who at once prescribed 20 grains of camphor in six ounces of almond mixture, to be taken every two hours. The first dose completely quieted the convulsions and there was no need of a second.

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