Title
Digalen “Roche” – Hoffmann-La Roche Digitalis Preparation
Author
Hoffmann-La Roche
Image
Description
This small amber glass bottle, sealed with its original paper wrap and string, contains Digalen—a preparation of digoxin manufactured by Hoffmann-La Roche. The label identifies it as containing alcohol 7½% and “Digioxinum solubile Cloetta.” The front bears the prominent red DIGALEN ROCHE branding, while the reverse provides detailed dosage instructions.
The drug was a standardized digitalis extract, derived from the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea), introduced in the early 20th century as a precise and more reliable cardiac glycoside for treating heart failure and arrhythmias. Unlike crude tinctures of digitalis, Digalen was marketed as being chemically consistent, with measurable potency.
Condition
Excellent preservation for its age. The paper label shows wear and small areas of discoloration, but the majority of text remains legible. The cork and outer paper seal are intact, though fragile with minor tears.
Gallery
Historical context
Digitalis had been used since the late 1700s to regulate heartbeat and control dropsy (edema), but preparations varied widely in strength. In the early 1900s, Hoffmann-La Roche—already becoming a global pharmaceutical powerhouse—marketed Digalen as a breakthrough in precision pharmacology. This standardization allowed physicians to dose more accurately, though toxicity remained a constant danger.
Curious Facts, Ephemera, and Trivia
“Digalen” was one of the first branded cardiac glycoside preparations, a step toward modern cardiology.
The term minims (used on the label) is an archaic liquid measurement equal to about 0.06 mL. A dose of 8–32 minims equates to only 0.5–2 mL, underscoring the extreme potency of digoxin.
Intravenous administration instructions appear directly on the bottle, reflecting the seriousness—and danger—of digitalis therapy at the time.
Excerpt
“Dose per os: 8 to 32 minims, three times a day. Injected intravenously, powerful results may be obtained with a dose of 15 minims in from 2 to 5 minutes.”
Why it is in the Cabinet
This bottle represents both the progress and peril of early standardized pharmaceuticals. Digalen sits at the crossroads of herbal tradition and scientific precision, embodying the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to modernize medicine while reminding us of the razor-thin margin between remedy and poison.
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