Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Sulfanilamide Disaster
Jul 7, 2021
Dive into the chilling tale of the Elixir sulfanilamide disaster of the 1920s, where a toxic medication claimed over 100 lives. Hear about the reckless decisions behind releasing untested drugs and the critical failures of pharmaceutical oversight. Explore the frantic race against time as regulators and the American Medical Association scrambled to uncover the dangers of a toxic ingredient. This story highlights the urgent need for stringent regulations that emerged from this tragic public health crisis.
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Sulfanilamide Discovery
- In the 1930s, a microbiologist named Gerhard Domag discovered sulfanilamide as an antibiotic.
- A pharmaceutical company developed it into a powder and tablet form to treat strep throat.
Elixir Sulfanilamide Creation
- Massengill's chief chemist, Dr. Harold Watkins, created a liquid form of sulfanilamide.
- He used diethylene glycol as a solvent, giving it a sweet raspberry flavor.
Untested Poison
- Diethylene glycol, used in the elixir, is a deadly poison related to antifreeze.
- Massengill didn't test the elixir before selling it, as it wasn't legally required then.