Glass bottle with plastic cap for 40 blue 'Sodium Amytal' (amobarbital) 'pulvules', with approximately 25 capsules remaining. 82 mm x 42 mm x 24 mm, .07kg. Made by Eli Lilly & Co., English, 1960-1970.

Sodium amytal is a strong sedative drug that is sometimes used to treat severe insomnia in patients who are already taking barbiturates – often for mental health problems.

It is a drug with a controversial history. It was used in the Second World War by some medics to send soldiers who were exhausted and traumatised by their experiences into a deep therapeutic sleep. However, it has also been described as a ‘truth serum’ and used during interrogations. Once a sedated, hypnotic state is induced, the subject is said to be more suggestible and less able to retain information they may wish to keep secret.