Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

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.

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Browse the collection by therapeutic category. 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.

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: These Pills are unsurpassed as a thorough and active anti-bilious remedy in all acute attacks.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: These Pills are unsurpassed as a thorough and active anti-bilious remedy in all acute attacks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
pre-1906
maker
Dr. C. Wakefield and Company
ID Number
MG.274347.265
catalog number
274347.265
accession number
274347
catalog number
M-12140
date made
1969-1982
maker
Morton - Norwich Products
ID Number
1986.0198.081
accession number
1986.0198
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For healing wire cutsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For healing wire cuts
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
W. F. Berry Medicine Company
ID Number
2014.0010.01
catalog number
2014.0010.01
accession number
2014.0010
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1900
maker
Dr. Benj Godfrey
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81533G56
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1870-1920
ID Number
1982.0513.02
accession number
1982.0513
catalog number
1982.0513.02
Date made
1923
ID Number
MG.M-10167
catalog number
M-10167
accession number
238391
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Restores mental alertness and wakefulness when experiencing fatigue or drowsiness.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Restores mental alertness and wakefulness when experiencing fatigue or drowsiness.
Date made
c. 1980
maker
Chilton Labs, Inc.
ID Number
2004.0129.68
accession number
2004.0129
catalog number
2004.0129.68
Date made
1908-1918
maker
Chamberlain Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.M-10768 [dup26]
catalog number
M-10768
accession number
256193
Date made
c. 1910s
maker
Dr. J.B. Lynas & Son
ID Number
1986.0873.33
catalog number
1986.0873.33
accession number
1986.0873
date made
ca 1960
ID Number
1980.0182.05
catalog number
1980.0182.05
accession number
1980.0182
Date made
1923
ID Number
MG.M-10168
catalog number
M-10168
accession number
238391
Date made
1925
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.060
accession number
1986.0198
Useful in the treatment of cuts, bruises, fever, sores, burns, scalds and minor irritations of the skin and scalp.Currently not on view
Description
Useful in the treatment of cuts, bruises, fever, sores, burns, scalds and minor irritations of the skin and scalp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930
maker
Pfeiffer Chemical Company
ID Number
1981.0219.064
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.064
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: useful in ringworm, itch, chronic scaly eczemaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: useful in ringworm, itch, chronic scaly eczema
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1917
maker
Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.293320.3193
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.3193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Remedy for Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhea.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Remedy for Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhea.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1882-1906
maker
Chamberlain Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.3006.123
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.123
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Squibb Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0475.112
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.112
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1898
trademark registration date (by The Brown Medicine Company)
1898-02-08
ID Number
ZZ.RSN80518R25
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1910
maker
Malena Company
ID Number
MG.254865.30
accession number
254865
catalog number
254865.30
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the permanent cure of catarrh, headaches, and all nervous pains.This Medicine is taken through a Patent Inhaling Tube, or from the Hand.For Catarrh, Fill the tube with the liquid and insert the bulb
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the permanent cure of catarrh, headaches, and all nervous pains.
This Medicine is taken through a Patent Inhaling Tube, or from the Hand.
For Catarrh, Fill the tube with the liquid and insert the bulb in one nostril, and close the other nostril with the finger, and then snuff as quickly as possible that the liquid may be thrown up high into the head. Repeat the dose til it passes over into the throat. Do this on retiring for the night, and when you get up in the morning. [. . . ]
For Headache, and all Nervous Pain in the Head, Fill the tube as before, and snuff the liquid up the nostrils as high as possible, repeating the dose every few minutes until all pain is removed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868 - 1870
maker
Rogers, Fuller and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.3191
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.3191
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950s
ID Number
1985.0475.509
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.509
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1989
maker
Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
ID Number
2004.0050.10
accession number
2004.0050
catalog number
2004.0050.10
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1988
ID Number
1989.0196.219
catalog number
1989.0196.219
accession number
1989.0196
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908 - 1918
ID Number
1978.0883.082A
catalog number
1978.0883.082A
accession number
1978.0883
Greenish glass bottle with paper label that reads in part “J. F. PERKINS & BRO., Pharmacists / S.W. Corner Greene and Franklin Streets.” A penciled inscription reads “Lime Water.” The firm, the oldest pharmacy in Baltimore, was established ca. 1800.Currently not on view
Description
Greenish glass bottle with paper label that reads in part “J. F. PERKINS & BRO., Pharmacists / S.W. Corner Greene and Franklin Streets.” A penciled inscription reads “Lime Water.” The firm, the oldest pharmacy in Baltimore, was established ca. 1800.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1865
maker
J.F. Perkins & Bro.
ID Number
MG.65.2069
catalog number
65.2069
accession number
256516

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