Opened can of distilled water for use with desiccated human plasma

Long can made from plated tin with a lacquer finish. The lid and the contents have been removed. Printed in plain black text on the body of the can are the words: '300 cc DISTILLED WATER Pyrogen-free, Distilled, and Sterilized. Contains also sterile equipment to be used with the needles and clamp contained in the plasma can, for administrating restored plasma. See instructions for use and diagrams on plasma can. ELI LILLY AND COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, USA'.

After an inter-war hiatus, the Second World War provided a real impetus to the development of blood transfusion and storage, and the preparation of plasma and serum. In Australia, the outbreak of war saw the formation of a Medical Coordination Committee which recommended that the Red Cross should take responsibility of blood donor recruitment; this was developed in conjunction with the New South Wales Blood Transfusion Service which concentrated on serum preparation. Additionally, 2 Australian Blood and Serum Preparation Unit was formed to handle the frontline organisation of blood and serum distribution. Serum proved life-saving in the treatment of burns victims (many thousands of whom required treatment during this conflict), demanding a high workload on the Blood Transfusion Service. The development of desiccated serum also took priority in the United States, with research and commercial development led by the pharmaceutical company of Eli Lilly and Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, who had, by 1943, developed the means for full-scale production of penicillin. The Australian Red Cross supplied huge amounts of blood, plasma and serum to American Pacific Forces, and much American material, usually supply by Eli Lilly, was used in Australia.