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Review
. 2020 Dec 10:371:m4467.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.m4467.

Toxicological analysis of George's marvellous medicine: literature review

Graham Johnson  1   2 , Patrick Davies  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Toxicological analysis of George's marvellous medicine: literature review

Graham Johnson et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the therapeutic effects and toxicity of the eponymous concoction described in Roald Dahl's book George's Marvellous Medicine.

Design: Literature review.

Setting: Two literature loving households in England.

Participants: George Kranky and grandma Kranky.

Main outcome measures: Clinical and toxic effects of the individual ingredients checked against those listed in ToxBase, the National Poisons Information Service's poisons database.

Results: The medicine contained 34 ingredients. The most common toxic effect identified on ToxBase was nausea and vomiting (16 ingredients, 47%). Potentially life threatening effects were associated with 13 (38%) ingredients, including depression of the central nervous system, kidney injury, convulsions, cardiac toxicity, and mucosal erosion. The effects described in the book were accurate initially but then diverted from the most likely clinical outcome (death).

Conclusions: Although Dahl ought to be applauded for his initial accuracy about the toxicology of the ingredients in George's marvellous medicine, the overall effect would be fatal catastrophic physiological collapse. Scientific exploration and experimentation should be encouraged in children, although any medicinal ingredients need to be checked for potential toxicity before being administered-to grandmas or anyone else.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: GJ has completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf and both authors declare: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Ingredients of George’s marvellous medicine and the likely clinical effects of ingestion. CNS=central nervous system
Fig 2
Fig 2
Treatment algorithm should grandma or any unfortunate person be administered George’s marvellous medicine
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Dahl R. com - About Us. https://www.roalddahl.com/global/about-us (accessed 2 November 2020).
    1. Dahl R. George’s Marvellous Medicine. Jonathan Cape, 1981.
    1. Dahl R. George’s Marvellous Medicine. Puffin, 1998.
    1. Dahl R. George’s Marvellous Medicine. Jonathan Cape, 2010.
    1. Dahl R. George’s Marvellous Medicine. Puffin, 2016.

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