Category: Antibacterial | Material: Amber glass bottle | Maker: Merck & Co., Rahway, NJ

Label Notes: “WARNING—This is a dangerous drug and may cause serious or fatal injury…”

Patent: U.S. Patent No. 2,362,087

📖 Description

This imposing amber glass jar once held a full pound of Sulfathiazole—a sulfa drug that predates penicillin and helped win battles both military and microbial during the 1930s–1950s. Note the ominous label: “Not Sterilized,” “dangerous drug,” and strict warnings about prescription-only use by physicians, dentists, or veterinarians.

Introduced in the 1930s, Sulfathiazole was one of the earliest systemic antibiotics, part of the sulfonamide family. It was used for everything from strep throat to infected wounds. Soldiers in WWII often carried sulfa packets to dump into gunshot wounds as emergency infection control.

💀 Why It’s Here

Despite saving lives, Sulfathiazole had a dark side. Toxicity and allergic reactions were common, and by the 1950s, it was largely replaced by safer antibiotics. Bonus horror: in 1941, a fatal contamination incident involving improperly manufactured sulfathiazole tablets killed dozens—prompting massive reforms in drug regulation.

🧠 Fun Fact

The U.S. military issued sulfa powders in first aid kits marked “Shake on wound—do not eat.” This bottle? Definitely not a sprinkle-on-your-toast situation.

🏷 Suggested Tags

#SulfaDrug #AntibioticHistory #WWIIMedicine #PharmacyPast #DangerousCures