This original French pharmacy tin once contained Pastilles de Cocaïne à la Tyrothricine, medicated throat lozenges. The lithographed design advertises a formula combining cocaine with tyrothricin, an early antibiotic used in throat preparations during the first half of the 20th century.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pharmaceutical cocaine was widely accepted in legitimate medical practice for its local anesthetic properties. It appeared in numerous preparations intended to relieve sore throats, calm persistent coughs, and temporarily numb irritated tissues. Products like these remained available in many European pharmacies before cocaine's medical use became increasingly restricted.
Laboratoires MIDY was among France's best-known pharmaceutical manufacturers, recognized for producing innovative medicinal products throughout the early and mid-20th century.
Details
Origin: France
Maker: Laboratoires MIDY
Date: Mid-20th Century (approximately 1920s–1940s)
Material: Lithographed tinplate
Decoration: Original pharmaceutical advertising graphics
Dimensions: Approximately 3¼ in. W × 2¼ in. H × ¾ in. D
Condition: Displays age-appropriate wear consistent with vintage pharmaceutical packaging, including light scratches, minor edge wear, scattered toning, and gentle oxidation. The lithographed graphics remain crisp and highly legible with strong overall presentation. Please review all photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.
