What is a laudanum?

Answer 1

It was basically a tincture of opium (opium dissolved in ethanol). There were standard concentrations of laudanum, but since the opium used could have various concentrations of morphine & codeine, one batch of laudanum could be weaker or stronger than a previous batch.

Answer 2

Laudanum was a ~convenient way to provide a multi-use medicine. Its a tincture of opium and ethanol.

In this form, the tincture is unlikely to spoil (has a long shelf-life), and it can be measured accurately for dosing.

Laudanum was mostly used to treat the following ailments: Moderate pain, coughing, irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea. There were other medical problems where Laudanum was used to ease the patient's discomfort, but the medicine did nothing to make the patient better.

Although off-label use for the treatment of Alcoholism, morphinism, etc..., under the direct supervision of a doctor, a patient could be weaned off of those other drugs with a tapering dose of Laudanum.