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Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection
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Introduction  |  History  |  Therapeutic Use Categories

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About the Collection
The Smithsonian Institution began to collect objects related to health and medicine in 1881. It first obtained examples of patent medicines in 1930, acquiring packages of Haarlem Oil (or Dutch Drops), Dr. John Hooper’s Female Pills, and Roche’s Herbal Embrocation.  Since then the Smithsonian’s collection of patent medicines has expanded to over 4,000 products, dating from the 19th century to the present day. 

About this Object Group
This group of objects features examples from this collection, found in the Division of Medicine and Science at the National Museum of American History.  Each entry includes a photo of the object, the product’s name, maker’s name, place of manufacture, and a date range.  Ingredients and therapeutic claims are included when indicated on the product packaging.

Browse
Browse the collection by therapeutic categorymaker name, or place made.  You can also use the keyword search (at right) which searches all fields of information.;

More Information
Learn more about patent medicine history and how this history is revealed in examples from our collection.  Questions or comments?  Contact us.

Results for “Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection”: 642
Showing 1 - 25   |  next »

666 Salve
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For head or...
A. J. P. Pile Cure
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: A pile cure (hemorrhoids)
A.D.S. Carbolic Salve
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For bruises...
A.D.S. Pepsin Tablets
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
A.D.S. Sodamint Tablets
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Antacid
Acker's Dyspepsia Tablets
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Invaluable...
Adamson's Cough Balsam
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Treatment for...
Adler-I-Ka Intestinal Evacuant
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For gas in stomach...
African Sea Coconut
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: An excellent cough...
Akerue French Liver and Kidney Regulator
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: A liver and kidney...
Alden's Liniment
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Sprains, bruises,...
Allan's Soluble Medicated Bougies
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For gleet and gout
Allen's Lung Balsam
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For the cure of all...
Alphozone Tablets
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: A nontoxic germicide
Amitone
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Most effective...
Anahist
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: Symptomatic relief...
Angeline for Rheumatic Fever
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For rheumatic fever,...
Antikamnia & Codeine
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Antikamnia & Codeine Tablets
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For coughs, colds,...
Antikamnia Compound Tablets
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Headaches,...
Antikamnia Tablets
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: Analgesic, anodyne,...
Anti-Uric
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Treatment for...
Arnold's Balsam
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Ascatco
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For asthma, catarrh,...
Aspirin
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the temporary...

Showing 1 - 25   |  next »

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Smithsonian National Museum of American History