Van Horn and Sawtell

Van Horn and Sawtell was a prominent firm of manufacturing chemists based in New York and London during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The company is most famous for developing and commercializing K-Y Jelly, which was originally introduced as a sterile lubricant for surgical applications. In addition to lubricants, the firm specialized in the production of sterilized surgical sutures and dressings, addressing the critical need for aseptic materials in the medical field. Their innovations in sterilization and water-soluble bases made them a leader in surgical supplies. In 1917, the company was acquired by Johnson & Johnson, which integrated their products into its surgical division and expanded the K-Y brand globally.