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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Beecham's Pills
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Patent remedy to dispel that liverish feeling, which became Britain's best-known contribution to the family medicine cupboard. The formula was patented in 1847 by Thomas Beecham (1820–1907), who had a grocery and herbal remedy shop in Wigan, near Manchester; his ingredient was the recently discovered chemical compound aloin, a laxative extracted from aloes. The pills' subsequent international success brought Beecham much wealth and incidentally enabled his grandson, Thomas *Beecham, to spend a great deal of money promoting music.
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