Ampoule of sodium penicillin G

Maker
Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (estab. 1916)
Date
1943
Description
This product was the original benzyl penicillin, or penicillin G, which had to be given by injection. This ampoule is rare, and is from one of the earliest batches of parenteral penicillin to be made available to Australia's civilian population. It has a use by date of 1 August 1944 and would have been manufactured earlier that year at CSL in Parkville. Potency was measured in Oxford units: one Oxford unit was the smallest amount of penicillin that would inhibit in vitro the growth of Staphylococcus in 50 millilitres of culture medium. This phial contains 100,000 Oxford units, enough to treat a life threatening infection in divided doses for one day.
See full details

Object detail

Maker

Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (estab. 1916)

Date

1943

Medium

glass, penicillin, paper, ink

Measurements

15.5 x 3.0 cm (diam)

Accession Number

MHM02273

Credit line

Gift of VF Davey, Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, 1968

Inscriptions

name/inscriptions ▫ as a printed label: 'PENICILLIN, "COMMONWEALTH"/(The Sodium Salt of Penicillin)./(in vacuo) No antiseptic added./Contents 100,000 Oxford Units./If kept at a temperature not exceeding 5º C. (41º F.)/this product will remain potent until......./Batch No. ......./CAUTION. - This preparation should be used only under/medical supervision./Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Melbourne, Australia.'
dates ▫ stamped on label, use-by: '1944.08.01'
batch number/maker's mark ▫ in blue ink on label: '50-56-1'

Object Type

pharmacology/medication

Medical History Museum Category

Pharmaceutical History

Museum

Medical History Museum

My shortlist

Explore other objects by colour

Related Objects

"Abbocillin -V" 100 ml liquid penicillin, in bottle; Circa 1968; MHM02313

Title: "Abbocillin -V" 100 ml liquid penicillin, in bottle Object Type: pharmacology/medication Date: Circa 1968 Accession Number: MHM02313 See full details

"Pedpiacs PVK" foil sachet for penicillin, box of 16; Circa 1965; MHM02307

Title: "Pedpiacs PVK" foil sachet for penicillin, box of 16 Object Type: pharmacology/medication Date: Circa 1965 Accession Number: MHM02307 See full details

"Penijec 100" penicillin single-squeeze tube, box of 12; 1968; MHM02308

Title: "Penijec 100" penicillin single-squeeze tube, box of 12 Object Type: pharmacology/medication Date: 1968 Accession Number: MHM02308 See full details

"Penijec Twinpak" penicillin single-squeeze tube, box of 12; 1963; MHM02309

Title: "Penijec Twinpak" penicillin single-squeeze tube, box of 12 Object Type: pharmacology/medication Date: 1963 Accession Number: MHM02309 See full details

"Pensig Tablets" penicillin tablets in bottle, with original packaging; 1965; MHM02311

Title: "Pensig Tablets" penicillin tablets in bottle, with original packaging Object Type: pharmacology/medication Date: 1965 Accession Number: MHM02311 See full details

"Pensig" penicillin tablets in bottle, with original packaging; 10 Sep 1964; MHM02310

Title: "Pensig" penicillin tablets in bottle, with original packaging Object Type: pharmacology/medication Date: 10 Sep 1964 Accession Number: MHM02310 See full details

Title: Roux bottle used in Department of Microbiology laboratory Object Type: equipment Date: 1940s Accession Number: MHM2011.45 See full details

Syringe of 'Cilicaine'; Circa 1950-1960; MHM04000

Title: Syringe of 'Cilicaine' Object Type: pharmacology/medication, instruments Date: Circa 1950-1960 Accession Number: MHM04000 See full details

Do you know something about this object?

Sort

Be the first to comment on this object record.

Add comment

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.