I think it was full of something illegal 
Collis Browns Tincture was definitely illegal in Australia, it was confiscated when I brought it back with my kids. You just bought it over the counter at the chemist in the UK in those days
It was great for kids, it contained tincture of opium which Australian customs objected to.
In my day in Welsh Wales we were so poor we couldnโt afford a middle name.
SorryโฆIโll get me coat.
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Along with some of the other mixtures mentioned we used to be given Indian Brandy for tummy upsets, a disgusting brownish liquid in a small bottle. A small amount was mixed with warm water - ugh it was awful. My gran used to make a concoction she called Gentian Root which tasted even worse! It was best not to complain of feeling unwell in those days I reckon!
My old (dead) dad used to say โbrown breadโ, though I always thought it must have been a Cockney thing.
Yes, I remember people using that phrase too, JBR.
Havenโt heard it for hears now though. 
We were given Castor oil!
Horrid stuff!
