Packaging of potassium chloride Electrolito tablets

Object/Artifact

-

Archive of Cuban Socialism

Name/Title

Packaging of potassium chloride "Electrolito" tablets

Entry/Object ID

2025.1.132

Description

A Cuban prescription pharmaceutical: a small folded cardboard box for "CLORURO DE POTASIO" (potassium chloride) coated tablets, brand designation "ELECTROLITO." The front (first image) is printed in green and black on buff card: "VENTA POR RECETA MÉDICA / 20 Tabletas revestidas / CLORURO DE POTASIO" (in white on a green panel with horizontal stripes) / "Cada tableta revestida contiene: Cloruro de potasio 300 mg / Excipiente, cs / ELECTROLITO." The back (second image) prints clinical information in black: "INDICACIONES" (hypokalemia, diarrhea, vomiting, severe burns, diabetic coma, muscular asthenia, post-operative states, as an adjuvant in corticotropic/corticosteroid/digitalis/thiazide therapy), "CONTRAINDICACIONES" (Addison's disease, renal insufficiency), "POSOLOGÍA" (one to three grams daily in three doses), and "INSTRUCCIONES: TRITURAR Y DILUIR EN AGUA" (crush and dissolve in water). At the bottom: "Precio: $0.35," a lot line ("Lote: 6104…58" approx.), and a code "T-4-0268-E." The box is heavily aged, foxed, and toned. The box is empty; no tablets are present — it survives as packaging only.

Use

Stored with the medical supplies of Leopoldo Arús Gálvez

Collection

The Cabrera Arús family collection, Leopoldo Arús Gálvez collection

Acquisition

Accession

2025.1

Made/Created

Place

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

Maker Cuban state pharmaceutical industry (specific plant/laboratory not named on the visible faces). Regulatory/product code "T-4-0268-E" present. "ELECTROLITO" functions as the product (electrolyte-replacement) designation. Date Circa 1970s–1980s (tentative; inferred from the Cuban state-pharmaceutical packaging style and conventions, the printed fixed price, and product-code format). No printed manufacture/expiry date; the lot line is a batch code. Within the collection range.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

Front: "VENTA POR RECETA MÉDICA / 20 Tabletas revestidas / CLORURO DE POTASIO / Cada tableta revestida contiene: Cloruro de potasio 300 mg / Excipiente, cs / ELECTROLITO." Back: "INDICACIONES" (as above), "CONTRAINDICACIONES: Enfermedad de Addison. Insuficiencia renal.," "POSOLOGÍA: Uno a tres gramos diarios, divididas en tres dosis.," "INSTRUCCIONES: TRITURAR Y DILUIR EN AGUA," "Precio: $0.35," lot number (≈ "6104…58"), and "T-4-0268-E."

Material

Cardboard

Condition

Overall Condition

Fair

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Leopoldo Arús Gálvez

Notes

owner

Related Places

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Research Notes

Notes

The detailed clinical text (indications, contraindications, posology) printed directly on consumer packaging, the prescription-only notice, and the fixed state price ("Precio: $0.35") are all characteristic features of Cuban state pharmaceutical packaging of the period and document the state-controlled pricing and dispensing of medicines. As with the other medicine boxes, design idiom and packaging conventions, rather than a printed date, are the dating guide; an explicit manufacturer is not named on the visible faces.

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

February 23, 2026

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 14, 2026