Box for "Hypoloid" Stibophen (trivalent antimony compound of Sodium Pyrocatecholdisulphonate)
Box for "Hypoloid" Stibophen (trivalent antimony compound of Sodium Pyrocatecholdisulphonate) for adults, dummy pack originally containing 1x1.5cc ampoule, 1x3.5cc ampoule and 14x5cc ampoules, with razors and information leaflet, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1940
Cardboard box containing a clear glass bottle for "Tabloid" Soluble Barbitone B.P. with a cork stopper. As it is a dummy pack, it is stuffed with cotton, and comes with an instruction leaflet. 53 mm x 38 mm x 105 mm, 46 g. The label on the box reads, '"TABLOID"/Soluble/Barbitone/B.P./ compressed/ gr. 5/ Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ (The Wellcome Foundation Ltd.)/ London (ENG.)/...' while the label on the bottle includes instructions, ' TABLOID'/ Soluble/ Barbitone, B.P./ compressed/ POISON/.../Direction.- One to two/ taken in a little water or milk,/ as ordered by the physician/...' Additional writing on the sides of the label repeats this information in Italian, French, German and Spanish. The instructions accompanying the dummy bottle make plain to any potential customer that only Burroughs and Wellcome had the right to use the 'tabloid' name. By Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, 1933.
Box containing bottle of 'Tabloid' Stramonium Leaf, Australia,1939
Box containing bottle of "Tabloid" Stramonium Leaf, dummy pack, with information leaflet, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1939
Stramonium was originally an African medicine used for fevers. It was introduced into clinical use by Philadelphia physician Samuel Cooper in the late 1700s. It mainly treated epilepsy and respiratory complaints. Stramonium became notorious in that period for being implicated in poisoning cases. In the 20th century, it was smoked in cigars to relieve asthma. It also treated Parkinson’s disease.
Manufacturer Burroughs Wellcome and Company claimed ‘Tabloid’ brand products were supplied ‘throughout the world to planters, ships, yachts, and all great exploring and hunting expeditions.’ This box and bottle are examples of dummy packaging. They were tested by the company before the product went on general sale.
Bottle for ‘Tabloid’ Phenobarbitone, England, 1933
Blue cardboard box containing glass bottle for "Tabloid" Phenobarbitone, 100x1/2grain tablets, dummy pack. 75 mm x 45 mm x 33 mm. Box with blue lettering reads, '"TABLOID"/Phenobarbitone/ compressed/ gr. 1/2.../Burroughs Wellcome & Co./ (The Wellcome Foundation Ltd.)/ London (ENG.)/...' Green paper label on interior bottle reads, 'TABLOID'/ Phenobarbitone/ compressed/ POISON/.../Direction.- One to four,/ taken in a little water or milk/ as ordered by the physician/...' Interior bottle also includes labels in French, German, Spanish and Italian. Handwritten note on box and bottle bear the date 19/5/33. Prepared by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, 1933.
Phenobarbitone was a drug used to treat epilepsy. It reduced the severity and frequency of seizures and would only be prescribed by a physician. This glass bottle of ‘Tabloid’ phenobarbitone tablets lists the contents as poisonous. The anti-seizure effect of phenobarbitone was realised in 1912 and it fast became one of the most prescribed drugs for epilepsy.
‘Tabloid’ was a brand name for compacted medicines. These were patented in 1884 by Burroughs, Wellcome & Co, the makers of this drug. The instructions on the box are in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, illustrating how the company aimed for and delivered to a global market. Phenobarbitone is no longer prescribed, having been replaced by newer epilepsy treatments.
Box containing empty bottle for 100x5mg tablets of "Tabloid" Vitamin B1 Hydrochloride, with information leaflet, dummy pack, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1941
"Vaporoles" of Hemisine and Eucaine Hydrochloride for injection
Box containing 10x1ccx0.022g "Vaporoles" of Hemisine and Eucaine Hydrochloride for injection, (one ampoule missing), by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1910-1940
Box containing 10x1ccx0.03g ampoules (one empty one remaining) of "Hypoloid" Ephedrine Hydrochloride, dummy pack with information leaflet, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1933-1940
Box containing 10x1ccx0.2mg ampoules (all empty) of "Hypoloid" Ergometrine, dummy pack with information leaflet. 106 mm x 63 mm x 17 mm. By Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, 1937.
Carboard carton containing 10x1ccx0.005g ampoules of "Hypoloid" Apomorphine Hydrochloride, with razor and information leaflet. 20 mm x 104 mm x 60 mm, 55g. Made by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., English, 1910-1940.
Box containing 6x2cc double ampoules of "Vaporole" Iodine Tincture, applied by cotton bound around one half of ampoule, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1910-1940
Box containing 6x0.6cc wrapped-up ampoules of "Hypoloid" Ernutin, with razor and instruction leaflet, dummy pack, made for the USA market, by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1910-1940
Carton for twelve ampoules of pethidine hydrochloride
Original carton for 12x1ccx50mg ampoules (1 empty ampoule remaining) of "Hypoloid" Pethidine Hydrochloride. Dummy pack with information leaflet on pethidine hydrochloride for medical professionals included in box. According to the leaflet, pethidine, an opiate noted for its analgesic properties, should be used to treat 'severe pain or colic'. Printed front of carton reads, '"HYPOLOID"/PETHIDINE/HYDROCHLORIDE/ 50 mgm. in 1 c.c./ A sterilised solution for subcutaneous,/intramuscular or intravenous injection/ for use under medical direction/...' Made by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, 1942.
Box containing 12x1ccx0.5mg ampoules (6 remaining) of "Wellcome" Ergometrine injection, with information leaflet. 75 mm x 90 mm x 15 mm. By Burroughs Wellcome and Co., London, 1940-1960.
Paper-covered pine wood box, containing 'Wellcome' concentrated diphtheria antitoxin
Paper-covered wooden box containing "Wellcome" concentrated diphtheria antitoxin (8000 units), prepared at the Wellcome Physiological Research Laboratoies, Beckenham, and supplied by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., 1920-1950