The Packing of Medical Items

Medics pertaining to the 79th Infantry Division tend to an injured soldier. Of special interest is the plethora of helmet markings, and the improvised Geneva Convention Brassard
marker of the medic at bottom right. Taken June, 1944.

Medical Items came in different sizes, forms, and consisted of substances with different characteristics, such as liquids, beverages, drugs, chemicals, pastes, and organic materials like paper, cardboard, glass, metal, etc. The protection necessary for either storing, transportation, shipping, or distribution, required different packing methods and different materials. Some Items were expendable, whereas others had to be stored or kept for at least a certain period. Many Items were supplied as single units, but others were provided in pairs, or in dozens, or even in variable dimensions. For sake of completeness, we thought it advisable to give some examples.

Sample of Glass Ampule containing 1 1/2 ccm Mild Tincture of Iodine (protected with cotton sleeve).

Ampule – Sodium, Amytal, 1 (Item # 1413720)
Book -Label, Micro Slide, 500 (Item # 4312000)
Bottle – Chloroform, approximately 2 oz, USP (Item # 9105800)
Box – Syringe, Luer, Needle, 23-Gage, 3/4-Inch Canula, 12 (Item # 3849000)
Bag – Sponge, Surgical, 4-Inch by 4-Inch, 500 (Item # 9212500)
Ball – Twine, Jute, Coarse, 1 lb (Item # 7664000)
Bar – Soap, Laundry, 1 lb (Item # 7489000)
Barrel – Dishwashing Compound, Type II, 325 lb (Item # 7464010)
Bundle – Syringe, Luer, Needle Wire, 4-Inch, 10 (Item # 3855025)

Sample of Metal Spool containing 1-Inch x 5 Yards Adhesive Plaster (metal cover removed).

Cake – Wax, White, 1/4 lb, USP (Item # 1493000)
Can – Foot Powder, 2 oz (Item # 9109600)
Card – Pin, Safety, Large (Item # 7877000)
Carton – Cotton, Absorbent, 1 lb (Item # 2014000)
Coil – Suture, Silkworm Gut, Coarse, 100 Sutures (Item # 3805000)
Dose – Tuberculin Intradermic, Veterinary (Item # 1737000)
Dozen – Watch, Glass, 50-mm (Item # 4474400)
Drum – Alcohol, Ethyl, 54 gal, USP (Item # 1049500)
Each – (individual or single item) Bottle, Wide Mouth, 500 cc, Clear (Item # 4060500)
Envelope – Snare Wire, No. 24 Stubs Gage, 12 (Item # 3498000)
Flask – Flask, Kjeldahl, 500 cc (Item # 4253000)
Foot – Splint, Basswood, in Lengths (Item # 3738800)
Gallon – Gas, Carbon Dioxide, 7% in Oxygen (Item # 7805400)
Inch – Wire, Platinum, No. 22, B&S Gage (Item # 4489000)
Ingot – Gold Casting, 3/4-Crown, 2 Dwt (Item # 5331000)
Jar – Beef Extract, 1/4 lb, NF (Item # 1098000)
Jug – Mercury, 5 lb, USP (Item # 1284000)

Sample of Black Hard Rubber 1/2-Oz. Vial with Screw Cap containing Pills or Tablets. 

Length – Wire, Half-Round, 12-Gage, 5 Inches (Item # 5696700)
Package – Knife, Operating Blade, No. 10, 6 (Item # 3336900)
Pad – Perimeter Charts, Schweigger, Left (Item # 3714700)
Pair – Balance Pan, Glass (Item # 4017500)
Paper – Pin, Common (Item # 7876000)
Piece – Paper, Blotting, Hand (Item # 7602000)
Pound – Beads, Glass, Solid (Item # 4031000)
Quire – Paper, Wrapping, Dispensary, Blue, 24 by 36 Inches (Item # 7613000)
Ream – Paper, Typewriter, Bond, 8-Inch by 10 1/2-Inch (Item # 7610000)
Roll – Paper, Toilet (Item # 7868000)
Set – Scale, Prescription, Weights (Item # 7892000)
Sheet – Paper, Sand, Coarse, No. 3 (Item # 7478900)
Spool – Plaster, Adhesive, Surgical, 1 Inch by 5 Yards (Item # 2034000)
Sq ft – Lead Foil, 12-Inch (Item # 6046000)
Sq yd – Rug (Item # 7073700)
Stick – Wax, Sealing, 1/4 lb (Item # 7670000)
Tin – Dermatome Set, Special Cement, 1/2 Gallon (Item # 3160600)
Tube – Cement, Rubber, 1 oz (Item # 3644000)
Vial – Atabrine (Item # 1084500)
Yard – Muslin, 36-Inch, Unbleached (Item # 2027000)
4 Dwt – Gold Wire, 18-Gage, Round (Item # 5346000)

Sample of Paper Shaker Envelope containing 5 Grams of Sulfanilamide Crystalline Powder (to sprinkle over wounds).

This page was printed from the WW2 US Medical Research Centre on 28th March 2024 at 08:53.
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