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Re: Injectable Morphine



To Don:
 
The packet contained sulfanilamide powder (short name was sulfa). Sulfa was sprinkled into open wounds during WWII as an antibacterial to reduce infection. Although its may have been used early in the Korean War, it was replaced by other antibiotics including penicillin. By 1953, injectable penicillin as well as penicillin tablets were used extensively.
 
Dick   
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: Injectable Morphine

In a message dated 10/17/2003 5:01:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rtunison@cox.net writes:
Not long ago someone asked about injectable morphine carried by corpsmen or medics. I think this is an accurate answer.
 
"The morphine Syrettes - small tubes with a needle on one end and a dispenser on the other - contained a quarter grain of morphine to be injected into a grievously injured Marine to dull unbearable pain."
 
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley, Bantam Books, New York, 2000
 
Dick Tunison
On the day of the Inchon Landing every man in my unit was issued a tube of injectable morphine with strict orders that it was not to use it on anyone else, but yourself. To prevent someone from stealing it we were also warned not to let anyone know where we kept it. Even with the warning it seemed that everyone taped it inside their helmets.  When they passed out of the morphine they also took the package of sulfur powder that was in our personal first-aid kits. They said while the sulfur was effective it caused of too much scar-tissue.  Don Gill