Rectangular cardboard box of Oracon oral contraceptive (a) that folds open at top; contains rectangular plastic case (b) with a hinged top and snap front with the company logo in gold on lid; case contains cardboard packing insert (c) with cutout slot to contain the pill tube and adjustable date re…
Rectangular cardboard box of Oracon oral contraceptive (a) that folds open at top; contains rectangular plastic case (b) with a hinged top and snap front with the company logo in gold on lid; case contains cardboard packing insert (c) with cutout slot to contain the pill tube and adjustable date reminder which locks in with inserted tabs; rectangular with semicircular tab on one side and toothed edge for pointing at day column on the other; the date reminder is included as well in French (d); case also includes plastic cylindrical pill tube (e) filled with pills; tube lid has a circular plastic cap (f) with vertically grooved sides for better grip; bottom extends into slightly tapered, hollow plastic concavity cut into eight triangles coming together at apex.
Number Of Parts
6
Part Names
a - box - Size: Length 10.2 cm x Width 8.3 cm x Depth 2.4 cm
b - plastic case - Size: Length 9.4 cm x Width 8.0 cm x Depth 1.9 cm
c - cardboard insert - Size: Length 9.0 cm x Width 6.3 cm x Depth 0.9 cm
d - spare date insert - Size: Length 7.7 cm x Width 2.3 cm
e - pill tube - Size: Length 6.5 cm x Diam. 1.2 cm
f - pill tube lid - Size: Depth 1.8 cm x Diam. 1.5 cm
Provenance
Owned by Mrs. Linda Timlin of Janssen Ortho, Kingston, Ont.
Oracon trademarked in Canada in 1965; Mead Johnson acquired in 1967
Material
paper: white
plastic: white, transparent
pills: cream; pink
ink: blue, black, red, gold
Inscriptions
(a) Printed on front: "Pr // 1 vial of 21 tablets // Oracon* // 16 TABLETS ETHINYL OESTRADIOL (0.1 MG.) // 5 TABLETS DIMETHISTERONE (25 MG.) AND // ETHINYL OESTRADIOL (0.1 MG.) // *Reg. T.M. // PROFESSIONAL SAMPLE // ECHANTILLON PROFESSIONNEL // Mead Johnson // Laboratories // Symbol of service in medicine"; printed, top: "1 vial of 21 tablets // Oracon* TABLETS";
printed, bottom: "1 vial of 21 tablets // (L) K02 // Oracon* TABLETS"; printed, left side: "Oestrogenic agent: // Each white tablet contains 0.1 mg. of ethinyl oestradiol. // Usual dose: One white tablet daily from day 5 thorugh day 20 of the menstrual cycle. // Progestational-oestrogenic agent: // Each pink tablet contains 25 mg. of dimethisterone and 0.1 mg. of ethinyl oestradiol. // Usual dose: One pink tablet daily from day 21 through day 25 of the menstrual cycle. // See accompanying insert for professional information.";
printed, right: "Agent oestrogène: Chaque comprimé blanc contient 0.1 mg. d'éthinyl-oestradiol. // Posologie habituelle: Un comprimé blanc par jour à partir du 5ème jour jusqu'au 20ème jour du cycle menstruel. // Agent oestrogène-progestatif: Chaque comprimé rose contient 25 mg. de diméthistérone et 0.1 mg. d'ethinyl-oestradiol. // Posologie habituelle: Un comprimé rose par jour à partir du 21ème jour jusqu'au // 25ème jour du cycle menstruel. // Consultez le feuillet ci-joint pour renseignements professionels."; printed, back: "TO THE PHARMACIST // For dispensing, it is important // that the patient receive the // vial, the white plastic box and // the patient instruction booklet // entitled, "Your Personal Guide." // MEAD JOHNSON LABORATORIES // A Division of // Mead Johnson of Canada Ltd. // Toronto, Belleville, Montreal, Vancouver // Canada"; (c) printed on packing material: "DAY // MONDAY 1 // TUESDAY 2 // WEDNESDAY 3 // THURSDAY 4 // FRIDAY 5 // SATURDAY 6 // SUNDAY 7 // [days of week repeat, number increases by one until] // THURSDAY 25";
21 Mar 2024: repaired loose closure tab; separated case from box as it was too heavy for the weak paper closures
(a) Cardboard worn and nicked with use; discoloured with age; (b) light wear; (c) creased in places; tabs bent; (d) bent slightly; (e) some cracks in tube, non-vital to structural integrity; (f) no visible problems.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Internet
Reference Comments
Corporate Web site; New England Journal of Medicine, Mar. 6, 1980, pp. 551-4
Research Facts
Linked to endometrial cancer in studies in late 1970, 1980; Oracon used as example of estrogenic birth control.
Exhibit History
History of Contraception exhibit, Fraser-Armstrong 5, Kingston General Hospital; March 2004 - Case #3