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.

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
after 1877
maker
L. M. Brock and Company
ID Number
2008.3006.156
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.156
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1878
after 1891
maker
Paris Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.3006.163
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.163
For skin afflictions, cuts, burns.Currently not on view
Description
For skin afflictions, cuts, burns.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1876
maker
J.J. Pike and Company
ID Number
1981.0219.059
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.059
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Internal and External ComplaintsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Internal and External Complaints
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1871 - 1876
1871-1876
maker
J. Miles and Son
ID Number
2008.0018.129
catalog number
2008.0018.129
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for the relief of hypertensionCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for the relief of hypertension
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1877
after 1898
maker
Dr. M. LePrince's Products
ID Number
2008.0018.063
catalog number
2008.0018.063
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1879
maker
Chattanooga Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.3006.152
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.152
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c.1850-1870
c. 1850 - 1860
c. 1855
maker
S. A. Weaver & Company
ID Number
MG.M-10748 [dup3]
accession number
256193
catalog number
M-10748
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1878
after 1890
maker
Scott and Bowne
ID Number
2008.3006.130
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.130
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For cuts, bruises, sprain, superficial burns, sunburn, foot itch, prickly heat, insect bites, mouthwashCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For cuts, bruises, sprain, superficial burns, sunburn, foot itch, prickly heat, insect bites, mouthwash
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
maker
Dr. G. H. Tichenor Antiseptic Company
ID Number
MG.M-10418.01
catalog number
M-10418
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For relief of pain and inflammation; for external and internal use; complaints include sprains, bruises, burns, scalds, chilblains, frost-bites, chafes, corns, cramps, chapped lips and hands, wasp stings
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For relief of pain and inflammation; for external and internal use; complaints include sprains, bruises, burns, scalds, chilblains, frost-bites, chafes, corns, cramps, chapped lips and hands, wasp stings, insect bites, poisoning by dogwood or ivy, canker, lame back, stiff joints, stiff neck, neuralgia, piles, rheumatic pains, swelling of joints, bunions, hoarseness, sore throat, croup
Location
Currently not on view
copyright date
1879
maker
H.R.Stevens
ID Number
MG.274347.159
catalog number
274347.159
accession number
274347
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For coughs, colds, bronchitis, whooping coughCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For coughs, colds, bronchitis, whooping cough
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1862-1871
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup70]
accession number
256193
256193
catalog number
M-10766 [dup70]
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: as a LinimentCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: as a Liniment
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1865 - 1880
c. 20th Century
c. 1877
ca 1875
maker
Merchant's Gargling Oil Co.
ID Number
MG.256193.332
accession number
256193
catalog number
256193.332
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For coughs, colds, pulmonary complaints, consumption, asthma, whooping cough, pleurisy, spitting blood, etc.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For coughs, colds, pulmonary complaints, consumption, asthma, whooping cough, pleurisy, spitting blood, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1862-1871
1862-1871
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup68]
catalog number
M-10766 [dup68]
accession number
256193
256193
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]Currently not on view
Description
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1862-1871
maker
Graefenberg Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.07
catalog number
M-10413.07
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Colic, cholera morbus, cramps and pain in the stomach, cholera, coughs, colds, croup, sore throat, dyspepsia, diarrhea, fever and ague, kidney difficulty, pleurisy, acid stomach, indigestion, headache, s
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Colic, cholera morbus, cramps and pain in the stomach, cholera, coughs, colds, croup, sore throat, dyspepsia, diarrhea, fever and ague, kidney difficulty, pleurisy, acid stomach, indigestion, headache, sea sickness, rheumatism, neuralgia, sprains, lameness, sciatica, toothache, earache, catarrh, frost bites
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
before 1877
maker
William Renne
ID Number
MG.293320.1352
catalog number
293320.1352
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: treatment of indigestion, either stomachic or intestinal, with sluggishness of the hepatic functions and constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: treatment of indigestion, either stomachic or intestinal, with sluggishness of the hepatic functions and constipation
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1840-1870
maker
Bristol-Myers Company
ID Number
MG.M-07234
catalog number
M-07234
accession number
220009
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:These bitters have been employed with uncommon advantage in jaundice, weakness of the stomach, and general debility.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
These bitters have been employed with uncommon advantage in jaundice, weakness of the stomach, and general debility. The effects are peculiarly invigorating on the stomach and bowels, and are beneficial in removing costiveness produced by weakness of the intestines; they strengthen the digestive organs, create an appetite and communicate vigor to the stomach, without producing head-ache, oppression, etc., which so many bitters usually bring on; they are gratefully aromatic, and mildly cathartic, and are particularly serviceable in removing urinal obstructions.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1862-1871
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.001
catalog number
M-10757.001
accession number
256193
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]Currently not on view
Description
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1870
maker
W. F. Greeley
A. W. Greeley
ID Number
MG.M-10415.06
catalog number
M-10415
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For derangement of the liver and secretions. An alterative and cathartic.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For derangement of the liver and secretions. An alterative and cathartic.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1874
ca 1874
maker
Fouse Brothers and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.05
catalog number
M-10413.05
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For the cure of diseases of horse, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For the cure of diseases of horse, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. This powder should be given in all cases of loss of appetite, roughness of hair, stoppage of bowels or water, coughs, colds, swelling of gland of throat, worms, horse-ail, hide-bound, hots and heaves. For the prevention and cure of cattle plague, in its various forms of southern cattle fever, anthrax, rinderpest, pleuro-pneumonia, etc., hog cholera, chicken cholera.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1885
maker
I. S. Johnson and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10768
catalog number
M-10768
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To remove obstruction and irregularities; abortifacientCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To remove obstruction and irregularities; abortifacient
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1870
product distributor
Fiske, John H.
maker
Jervoise, J. Clarke
Fiske, John H.
ID Number
1984.0782.043
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.043
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer:It cures all diseases that originate from the suppression of the Menses, by taking cold or from any other cause. It cures the Lucorrhea, or Whites, in a very short time.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer:
It cures all diseases that originate from the suppression of the Menses, by taking cold or from any other cause. It cures the Lucorrhea, or Whites, in a very short time. It regulates and tones the up the system without the pernicious use of mineral drugs. It is good to use before childbirth, it prepares the system for the event, relieves of more than one-half the labor and pains, and every woman who has once used it, would not consent to do without it. It is a medicine that all middle-aged women need the regulate and relieve them of the pain and ill feeling, incident to that critical period called the turn of life. Two or three powders taken before the periodical return of the Menses, will prevent all sickness incident to such cases. It is purely vegetable and absolutely harmless, and would not hurt a well person; for it only acts on the sexual organs, and will regulate and tone them to healthy action. Thousands of girls in passing from girlhood to womanhood, take a slight cold, which supresses the natural courses, causes them to decline for one, two or three years and finally sink into an untimely grave, and the family physician calls it consumption; when one half box of this remedy taken at first, would have restored them to health and usefulness. [printed on paper insert]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1868
date made
after 1879
maker
Botanic Medicine Company
ID Number
1989.0711.33
accession number
1989.0711
catalog number
1989.0711.33
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A postitive cure for biliousness, disordered liver, costiveness, dyspepsia, headache, impure bloodCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A postitive cure for biliousness, disordered liver, costiveness, dyspepsia, headache, impure blood
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1875
maker
Thomas Elliot
ID Number
1978.0883.120
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.120

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.