Morphine Syrette

Throughout World War II, the U.S. military issued soldiers medical kits to treat their wounds in combat. Each kit included morphine syrettes that allowed the wounded to self-administer narcotics before medics could arrive on the scene. The red and white metal tubes were topped with metal injection needles protected by plastic covers. This tube once contained 1.5 ccs of Morphine Tartrate before it was used. Some soldiers developed addiction to the pain-numbing morphine labeled “Warning: May be habit forming.” After the war, people bought—and even stole—surplus medical kits for the morphine inside. Many turned to heroin when the surplus morphine disappeared.