No 9 Medicine and W. and S.

[Gardenerbill]

I have just finished reading 'A Subaltern in Serbia' in a chapter entitled 'A month in Hospital' there is a reference to No.9's:

 

'It reminds me of a certain M.O., the best of good fellows, whose stock of medicines had fallen so low that only a small black bottle of "No.9's" remained'

 

I am curious to know what No.9's might be?

 

Also there is a reference to 'W. and S.':

 

'I am sitting in a cosy armchair before a blazing fire, with (do you believe it?) a simply scrumptious W. and S. on a small table by my side.'

 

Sounds like some dort of cake?

Edited 6 December , 2016 by Gardenerbill

[IPT]

Pill no.9 was a laxative (possibly the origin of the bingo call - "Doctor's Orders!")?

 

Whisky and soda?

 

 

Edited 6 December , 2016 by IPT

[Gardenerbill]

Thanks IPT, Laxative fits with the humourous anecdote and Whisky and Soda sounds good too.

[seaJane]

The first MOIC I worked with wrote an article on no.9, from a different point in history: https://archive.org/stream/JRNMSVOL86Images/JRNMS_VOL_86#page/n156/mode/1up