Rare Apollo Medical Kit, the very type stowed in the lower equipment bay of the Apollo Command Module. The Beta cloth container, 4.5″ x 4.5″ x 6″, features parts labels to the bottom, “Medical Accessories Kit, Mfg. By: B. Welson Co., P/N: SEB42100082-202, S/N: 1118, Date of Mfg.: 2/29/68,” and to the underside of the kit’s lid, “Rucksack Med. Access. Kit, Mfg. By: B. Welson Co., P/N: SEB42100100-202, S/N: 1118, Date of Mfg.: 3/5/68”; both labels have been struck through with red felt tip, with the latter also marked as “Class III,” indicating that the kit was downgraded from its potential flown status or that it was used for training purposes. Also on the underside of the lid are holders for a total of six medical injectors, one of which is present, which housed pre-filled medical syringes; the red cap examples, such as this, contained 90 mg of Demerol for pain, whereas yellow cap examples provided drugs for motion sickness.
The kit features three component layers fitted with medical supplies and small medical equipment; the top layer contains nine compartments for “Aspirin,” “Pain,” “Antibiotic,” “Decongestant,” “Nausea,” “Diarrhea,” and “Stimulant,” with all but the “Antibiotic” and “Nausea” compartments containing one or more dose strips; the “Stimulants” are marked “Placebo.” The second layer contains pouches for “Electrode Paste,” “PH Paper,” “Roll L,” “On C,” “Cuffs R,” “Thermometer,” and “Electrode Packet,” the last of which is included but showing signs of deterioration. The third and final layer holds compartments for “Skin Cream,” “Eye Drops,” “Antibiotic,” “Band Aids,” and “Bandage,” with only the “Skin Cream” pocket empty. In fine condition, with light scattered stains and marks to the exterior, which also bears a block of toning to the underside.
Per the document ‘Biomedical Results of Apollo (NASA SP-368), Apollo 7 to 11 - Medical Concerns and Results,’ there was no ‘standard’ medical kit throughout the program: While the basic contents of the kit remained largely the same from one mission to the next, the adequacy of the kit was reviewed after each mission, and appropriate modifications were made for the next flight. A short-acting barbiturate, Seconal, was added after reports of sleep difficulties by the Apollo 7 crew. The cardiac arrhythmias experienced during the Apollo 15 mission resulted in the addition of Pronestyl, Lidocaine, atropine, and Demerol in subsequent missions.
The crew of Apollo 7 famously came down with colds, leading Apollo 7 commander Wally Schirra to later refer to the mission as the ‘11-day cold capsule.’ Twenty-four Actifed tablets were included in Apollo 7's medical kit, and all were consumed. The allotment of Actifed was increased to 60 pills for all subsequent missions.
The contents of the medical kits were also updated as more effective medications were identified. For example, the combination scopolamine/Dexedrine was substituted after Apollo 11 for the previously stowed Marezine after ground-based tests indicated it was more effective for the treatment of motion sickness. All crew members were tested for both sensitivity and response to each of the medications carried in the medical kit. Tylenol and Benadryl were added to the medical kit for the Apollo 8 mission due to the aspirin sensitivity of one of the crewmen.
The Apollo medical kit evolved from the kit carried on Gemini missions. One of the objectives of the Gemini program was to conduct long-duration flights to verify that humans could live in space for the expected duration of a lunar flight. The duration of Gemini 7, for example, was 14 days, the duration of which made a medical kit a necessity. The Gemini 7 medical kit contained motion sickness tablets and injectors, stimulants, aspirin, pain pills and injectors, decongestants, anti-diarrhea tablets, antibiotic tablets, and eye drops.
NASA's philosophy regarding the use of medication also evolved. Its initial policy precluded such usage except in a medical emergency (period documentation noted that "a normal man is preferred" and that ‘drugs are used only if necessary’). As additional experience was gained, this policy was relaxed and certain drugs were prescribed during Apollo missions when indicated. For example, sleeping pills were prescribed when adequate rest could not be obtained, particularly when sound sleep was important prior to critical mission phases.
A particular concern, however, centered on the ability of crewmen to perform effectively at periods of 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours following the ingestion of the Seconal sleeping aid. Crewmen were given flight-related performance tests at each of these four-time intervals, and all exhibited satisfactory performance.’
