[The elixir of doctor Garrus. Drug or liquor? Original formula or imitation?].
Elixirs were formerly very used drugs or drinks. They are alcoholized and sugared, often offered as liquors, pleasant to drink, and contain drugs or not. Many are uncommon now, but Garrus elixir has passed through the centuries. Digestive stimulative, tonic, flavour of potions, aperitive and liquor, it is obtained by maceration of aloes, saffron, myrrh, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg in alcohol before distillation, then addition of vanilla, maiden-hair, orangeflower water and sugar. It seems to have been discovered at the end of the 17th century or the beginning of 18th century by Joseph Garrus, medicine doctor, living in Paris. When he died, in 1722, the elixir was already well known. During the Regency, it was administered to Duchess of Berry, who died nevertheless, and to some important members of the royal Court. During all the 18th century, it was considered as a panacea with many useful properties, inscribed in some pharmacopoeias and disposable in the drugstores. However, Garrus was acused of having simply improved the formula of the "élixir de propriété" of Paracelsius, also called tincture of aloes, myrrh and saffron. Taking in account the great number of formulas containing these same drugs and plants, it is difficult today to elucidate their origins and to discover who was imitated by another. The elixir of Doctor Garrus is also known in literature since its name is used in Madame Bovary and Tartarin sur les Alpes. At the beginning of our 21st century, some of us consider it as one of the best aperitive liquors.
Faculté de pharmacie, Nancy Cedex, France.
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D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005602:France; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000431:Ethanol