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.

Browse
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.

date made
ca 1960
ID Number
1980.0182.05
catalog number
1980.0182.05
accession number
1980.0182
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1955-1960
maker
Cot-N-Chips Company
ID Number
1985.0481.036
catalog number
1985.0481.36
accession number
1985.0481
1985.0481
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1968
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.107
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.107
Fast relief of nasal congestion, fever of colds and "flu"Currently not on view
Description
Fast relief of nasal congestion, fever of colds and "flu"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
trademark registered (BiAct)
1969-06-03
maker
Sauter Laboratories
ID Number
1981.0219.070
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.070
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1967
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.058
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.058
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
prior to 1967
maker
McKesson and Robbins
ID Number
1988.3089.054
catalog number
1988.3089.054
nonaccession number
1988.3089
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1969
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.046
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.046
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960's
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.087
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.087
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1967
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.047
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.047
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960's
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.088
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
v
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1966
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.084
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.084
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: a sedative for its quieting effect in sleeplessness, restlessness, nervous irritability and nervous tension headaches.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: a sedative for its quieting effect in sleeplessness, restlessness, nervous irritability and nervous tension headaches.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Pfeiffer Company
ID Number
1985.0475.491
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.491
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
Salisbury, North carolina
1950s-1960s
ID Number
1979.1144.044
catalog number
1979.1144.044
accession number
1979.1144
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1935 - 1965
ID Number
1993.0331.048
catalog number
1993.0331.048
accession number
1993.0331
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1960
maker
Morton - Norwich Products
ID Number
1986.0198.050
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.050
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1935 - 1965
maker
Lambert Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1993.0331.082
catalog number
1993.0331.082
accession number
1993.0331
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1961
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.095
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.095
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1964
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.061
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.061
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1968
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.014
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.014
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1962
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.055
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.055
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A soothing application for massaging the feet. Aids in relieving sensitive, tired feet, tenderness, burning sensation and muscular soreness caused by exertion and fatigue.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A soothing application for massaging the feet. Aids in relieving sensitive, tired feet, tenderness, burning sensation and muscular soreness caused by exertion and fatigue.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960s
maker
Scholl Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2008.0018.260
catalog number
2008.0018.260
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
prior to 1967
maker
Drexel Laboratories
ID Number
1988.3089.040
catalog number
1988.3089.040
nonaccession number
1988.3089
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Helps relieve irritating ciyghs accompanying colds. Cuts plegm.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Helps relieve irritating ciyghs accompanying colds. Cuts plegm.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1964
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.009
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.009
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1961
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.057
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.057

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