Adam CurtisBBC blog archive, 2009-2016

The postcards and the truth drug

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Sodium Pentothal is an anaesthetic. But it was also used by both sides in the Cold War as a truth drug in interrogations. It was made by Abbot Laboratories. They used a very strange way to advertise Pentothal. They sent postcards from around the world - the first here is from Rwanda - to doctors in America.

pentathol postcard from Rwanda #1, frontpentathol postcard from Rwanda #1, rearpentathol postcard from Rwanda, frontpentathol postcard from Rwanda, rear viewpentathol postcard from Hawaii, frontpentathol postcard from Hawaii, rear viewpentathol postcard, Spainpentathol postcard from Spain, rear viewpentathol postcard from Mauritius, frontpentathol postcard from Mauritius, rear view
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  1. Meseria · 02:11 22 Jun 2009

    Mr. Curtis, when I saw the darkness at Quay House I was reminded of an institution in Germany called "Haus der Sinne" (meaning house of the senses). One of the guides there said that they have to aerate the room of darkness very often because of the perspiration of fear. Visitors can smell it and are irritated by it, fear increases.

  2. Word_number · 04:40 25 Jun 2009



    How very strange. Marketing men sure are creative though, imo.

  3. gypsydave5 · 21:14 29 Jun 2009

    This is wonderful. The copy has that 50s rhythm to it. Were they up to any other shenanigans to tie into the theme? And were these countries picked for a good reason?