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: To relieve colds, nervous and sick headache, rhuematic and neuralgic pains, toothache, backache, sprains, bruises and burns.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To relieve colds, nervous and sick headache, rhuematic and neuralgic pains, toothache, backache, sprains, bruises and burns.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
2008.0018.213
catalog number
2008.0018.213
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:LaxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Laxative
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.33
catalog number
M-10413.33
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: remedy for constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: remedy for constipation
Location
Currently not on view
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1347
catalog number
293320.1347
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: remedy for constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: remedy for constipation
Location
Currently not on view
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1346
catalog number
293320.1346
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Remedy for constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Remedy for constipation
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1935
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1345
catalog number
293320.1345
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:To relieve colds, nervous and sick headache, rheumatic and neuralgic pains, toothache, backache, sprains, bruises and burnsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
To relieve colds, nervous and sick headache, rheumatic and neuralgic pains, toothache, backache, sprains, bruises and burns
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1344
catalog number
293320.1344
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A pain-relieving liniment for use in the relief of muscular aches and pains. Effective antiseptic for minor cuts, abrasion. Excellent for athlete's foot.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A pain-relieving liniment for use in the relief of muscular aches and pains. Effective antiseptic for minor cuts, abrasion. Excellent for athlete's foot.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1956
retailer
Sherman Pharmacy
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
1985.0460.080
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.080
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: LaxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Laxative
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1940
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
1979.0798.411
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.411
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For burns, cuts, bruises, sores, wounds, chapped and cracked skin, boils, rectal irritations, felons, itch, tetter, cold on the chest, lumbago, varicose veins, garget and eczema. For stock.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For burns, cuts, bruises, sores, wounds, chapped and cracked skin, boils, rectal irritations, felons, itch, tetter, cold on the chest, lumbago, varicose veins, garget and eczema. For stock. Cuts, scratches, collar and saddle galls, bruises, sore teats on cows, caked udder.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1916
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
1979.0798.175
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.175
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: LaxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Laxative
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1930
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
1979.0798.335
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.335

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