Strychnine Sulphate Poison Bottle

Manufacturer / Maker United Drug Co., Boston

Dateca. 1905

Mediumglass, paper

Dimensions2 3/8 × 1 1/4 × 3/4 in. (6 × 3.2 × 1.9 cm)

ClassificationsVessels & Containers

Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Mrs. Betty Mae Hartman

Object numberPC1984.31.74

DescriptionThis amber glass bottle, manufactured by United Drug Company in Boston, was designed to hold 100 sugar-coated tablets of Strychnine Sulphate - a product that used to be used in small doses to strengthen muscle contractions and is now a pesticide for rodents or birds. The bottle is cylindrical in shape and curves to become smaller at the top lip. There is a white paper label prominently displayed across its front. At the top of the label, the word “POISON” is printed in bold red letters, flanked by small skull-and-crossbones icons in the upper left and right corners—clear warnings of the product's dangerous nature. Below, the label identifies the contents and dosage: “100 Sugar-Coated Tablets” of Strychnine Sulphate, each containing “1/30 Grain.” Instructions advise taking one tablet at a time, strictly as directed by a physician. The label is framed by a thin, decorative red border that enhances its visibility while emphasizing the seriousness of the product’s purpose. The rich amber glass provides both aesthetic appeal and practical protection against light, preserving the chemical stability of its contents. This bottle reflects the meticulous design and labeling standards for medicinal products in the early-20th century, balancing clarity, caution, and functionality.

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