Heroin Bottle

In 1898, Bayer & Co. introduced heroin as a pain reliever and cough suppressant. The company packaged and sold the drug in bottles like this one. Its amber glass and colorful label presented the newly commercialized product “Heroin” to customers as an effective, safe treatment. While stronger and cheaper than morphine, heroin is also more addictive. An Englishman discovered the drug’s compound in 1875. However, 20 years passed before German chemist and Bayer employee Felix Hoffmann synthesized it into heroin. Hoffmann also created aspirin, a groundbreaking medication that is still widely used today.