Frankenstein 11

• “Ever since my recovery from the fever I had been in the custom of taking every night a small quantity of laudanum.” (p. 163)

Laudanum, discovered by Paracelsus, is a mixture of ethanol and opium latex or powder. During the 18th century, Laudanum was recommended for practically every sort of illness, particularly to relieve pain and produce sleep. However, there were severe side effects and warnings such as overdose, addiction, depression and hallucinations. Once Victor doubles the dose of his Laudanum, he finds himself experiencing a very frightening nightmare: Shelley's vivid description of the monster choking him and his struggle to escape.

(Works Cited)
"Laudanum." Wikipedia. Web. 3 Aug. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laudanum.

(Photo Credit)
Laudanum. Photograph. Wikipedia. Web. 13 Sept. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Laudanum.jpeg.