Title
Magmoid Sulco (Pitman-Moore Co.)
Author
N/A (Veterinary pharmaceutical product)
Image
Description
This 12-fluid-ounce Magmoid Sulco bottle is a brilliant cobalt blue example of a mid-century veterinary pharmaceutical, produced by the Pitman-Moore Company, a division of Allied Laboratories in Indianapolis. The label specifies it contains a blend of sulfonamide antibiotics—Sulfamerazine, Sulfadiazine, and Sulfathiazole—suspended in a viscous diluent.
The formula was likely used to treat systemic infections in animals at a time when sulfa drugs were considered cutting-edge. Note the handwritten “ANN” across the label and the cautionary language warning of potential toxicity—an artifact of a time before antibiotics like penicillin became widely accessible.
Condition
Good vintage condition. Moderate label wear and yellowing, with light internal residue visible. Original yellow plastic cap is intact. Blue glass remains vibrant and free of cracks.
Gallery
Historical context
Sulfa drugs were the first widely used antimicrobial agents before the advent of penicillin. Their use in veterinary medicine flourished in the 1930s–1950s, especially in livestock and farm animals.
The Pitman-Moore Co., founded in Indiana, became a major supplier of veterinary drugs and serums. Their branding often emphasized science-forward credibility with clean, clinical packaging.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
The name Sulco is a contraction of “sulfonamide compound.”
Warning labels like this were early precursors to today’s black box drug warnings.
Pitman-Moore operated one of the largest vaccine production facilities in the Midwest by the 1950s
Excerpt
“The sulfonamides may cause severe toxic reactions… Constant supervision of the patient is essential.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
This bottle is a striking example of early antibiotic use in veterinary medicine—and one that highlights both the promise and peril of sulfa drugs. It also pairs beautifully with its sibling bottle, Magmoid Sulf-Alka-Lac, representing an Indiana pharmaceutical company now lost to history.
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