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In my current Call of Cthulhu campaign, one of the
characters is a doctor,
and the issue has arisen of what medicines he carries around in his
"little black bag." I did some research on this, and thought that other players
of CoC might also be interested. I have not attempted to cover illegal drugs,
but rather those medicines that might be useful to an Investigator-doctor
operating in the 1920s. I am in no way a medical student or professional,
so any errors in this article are probably my fault. The Physicians
Desk Reference or a similar source will probably contain more information
on these drugs, as well as others which I have not listed.
Chloral Hydrate
time to onset of effect: 30-60 minutes
duration of effect: 4-9 hours
Chloral Hydrate is better known as the chemical ingredient of a "Mickey
Finn."
It is a (relatively) fast acting sedative, administered orally as a sleeping drug.
An excessive dose is dangerous; alcohol and other sedatives or narcotics might
exacerbate its effects. This is probably the best thing to use if the investigators
are going to be drugged by cultists (or vice-versa). It tastes bad, so it will be
noticeable if administered covertly (ie via drugged food or drink) although a
strongly flavored medium would probably disguise the taste.
Codeine
onset: 30-60 minutes
duration: 4-6 hours
Codeine is a partially synthetic narcotic, injected as an analgesic (or pain killer).
It is not as powerful as other opiates such as morphine or heroin, but still
habit-forming if taken for a long time. It would be used to control light or
moderate pain, rather than severe pain such as surgery.
Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
onset: 5 minutes
duration: up to 4 hours
Epinephrine (better known as adrenalin) is a fast acting injected drug, primarily
used to counteract cardiac arrest (heart attacks). It is also used to slow bleeding
during surgery, as it constricts blood vessels. It is also administered in combination
with other drugs to prolong their effects.
Morphine
onset: within 1 hour
duration: 4 hours
Morphine is a narcotic analgesic derived from opium. It is used to control severe
pain, such as surgery. It may be injected or taken orally. Overdoses are dangerous,
and morphine is addictive if taken for long periods. I believe this is the drug used
by the narrator in the story "Dagon", so there is plenty of precedent for
Investigator
abuse.
Phenobarbital
onset: 30-60 minutes orally, presumable faster if injected
duration: 24-48 hours
Phenobarbital is a barbiturate, and therefore has a marked sedative effect, but it's
principal use is in controlling epileptic seizures, as it suppresses electrical activity
in the brain. It may be injected or taken orally. It is dangerous in high doses.
Procaine
onset: 10-15 minutes
duration 40-60 minutes
Procaine is better known by it's brand name, Novocaine. It is used as a local
anaesthetic during surgery or dental procedures. It is injected, often in combination
with epienepharine to prolong it's effect. If you've ever had a tooth drilled, this is
probably what the dentist injected you with beforehand.
Quinine
Quinine is the only antimalarial drug available in the 1920s, and is therefore an
essential part of an investigators's kit if one is travelling in malaria-infested
territory.
It may be taken orally or injected, and commonly takes effect against the malaria in
1-2 days. At the high doses used to treat malaria, quinine causes ringing ears,
headaches, nausea, and blurred vision.