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.

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
Glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read “TAYEBI / . . . MAHOMAD & . . . / BOMBAY” and “EXTRA / STRONG GLASS.” A paper label refers to soda water.Currently not on view
Description
Glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read “TAYEBI / . . . MAHOMAD & . . . / BOMBAY” and “EXTRA / STRONG GLASS.” A paper label refers to soda water.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1885-1895
maker
Ali Mahomed & Co.
ID Number
MG.65.2100
catalog number
65.2100
accession number
256516
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
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1899
maker
Lowen Apotheke
ID Number
2005.0100.025
accession number
2005.0100
catalog number
2005.0100.025
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1898
maker
G. G. Green, Inc.
ID Number
MG.M-10241.06
catalog number
M-10241.06
accession number
241520
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1870s - 1890s
maker
Brown, O. Phelps
ID Number
2012.0165.006
catalog number
2012.0165.006
accession number
2012.0165
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: disordered stomach and bowelsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: disordered stomach and bowels
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c 1890
ca 1890
maker
E. F. Ayres
ID Number
MG.293320.1177
catalog number
293320.1177
accession number
293320
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
ca 1920
product launched; product trademarked (Ripans Tabules)
1891-1892
maker
Ripans Chemical Company
ID Number
1981.0219.082
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.082
The indications or uses of this product as provided on the packaging are:The inclosed pastilles are so compounded as to be absolutely harmless to the human economy, while their fumes effectually destroy all contagious, putrefactive and disease-bearing germs.No matter what the exp
Description
The indications or uses of this product as provided on the packaging are:
The inclosed pastilles are so compounded as to be absolutely harmless to the human economy, while their fumes effectually destroy all contagious, putrefactive and disease-bearing germs.
No matter what the exposure may be, these burning pastilles will positively prevent the spreading and communicating of diphtheria, small-pox, scarlet fever and allied epidemic diseases.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Spencer, Thomas D.
ID Number
MG.M-11460.03
catalog number
M-11460.03
accession number
260557
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Humphreys' Homeopathic Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.0018.068
catalog number
2008.0018.068
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th Century
c. 19
c. 1898
maker
C. I. Hood Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup59]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1897
discoverer
Hoffman, Felix
Maker
Hoffman, Felix
Bayer
ID Number
1999.0279.1
catalog number
1999.0279.1
accession number
1999.0279
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Long established remedy for quick relief in Headache and Neuralgia.Directions: Throw a powder on the tongue and take a swallow of water.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Long established remedy for quick relief in Headache and Neuralgia.
Directions: Throw a powder on the tongue and take a swallow of water. One powder usually relieves; in obstinate cases, if necessary, repeat by taking one more powder in 20 to 30 minutes. Eat and drink sparingly.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1890
maker
Kohler Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2010.0213.019
accession number
2010.0213
catalog number
2010.0213.019
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
John F. Hancock
ID Number
MG.302607.171
catalog number
302607.171
accession number
302607
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
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
John F. Hancock
ID Number
MG.302607.169
catalog number
302607.169
accession number
302607
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For all pale and weak persons.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For all pale and weak persons. These great French pills are endorsed, prescribed and recommended by all the European and American hospitals for the postive cure of nervousness, dizziness and all blood impurities, giving strength and tone to the system in general.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1898
date made
1898-1906
1898 - 1906
ca 1898
maker
Pean Medical Company
ID Number
1984.0782.147
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.147
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To be used as an inhalant; an antiseptic breathing treatment; For Catarrh of Head and Throat, Catarral Coughs and Bronchitis, Head Colds, Hay Fever.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To be used as an inhalant; an antiseptic breathing treatment; For Catarrh of Head and Throat, Catarral Coughs and Bronchitis, Head Colds, Hay Fever.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1896
maker
Booth Hyomei Company
ID Number
1984.0782.097
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.097
A dietic and healing remedy recommended by European physicians for complaints of the chest and stomach; dyspepsia; obstinate cough; hoarseness, etc. and especially constipation; also a pleasant table beverageCurrently not on view
Description
A dietic and healing remedy recommended by European physicians for complaints of the chest and stomach; dyspepsia; obstinate cough; hoarseness, etc. and especially constipation; also a pleasant table beverage
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1889-1894
maker
Leopold Hoff
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup63]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Rhume rose, diphterie, asthme, catarrhe, croup, grippe, rhumes ordinaires [rheum, diphtheria, asthma, catarrh, croup, grippe.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Rhume rose, diphterie, asthme, catarrhe, croup, grippe, rhumes ordinaires [rheum, diphtheria, asthma, catarrh, croup, grippe.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Himrod Manufacturing Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1308
catalog number
293320.1308
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: cholera, dysentery, diarrheaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: cholera, dysentery, diarrhea
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c 1890
ca 1890
maker
E. F. Ayres
ID Number
MG.293320.1179
catalog number
293320.1179
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Dyspepsia, indigestion, rheumatism, diarrhea, consumption, catarrh, bronchitis, neuralgia, headache, boils, ulcers, sore eyes, dropsy, scald head, paralysis, erysipelas, scrofula, tetter, skin diseases,
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Dyspepsia, indigestion, rheumatism, diarrhea, consumption, catarrh, bronchitis, neuralgia, headache, boils, ulcers, sore eyes, dropsy, scald head, paralysis, erysipelas, scrofula, tetter, skin diseases, bilious, remittant and intermittant fevers, pains in the back, shoulders, heart and chest, liver and kidney troubles, stomach ache, jaundice, gout and fits, dizziness, colds and coughs, croup, palpitation of the heart, lead colic, nausea, biliousness, constipation, piles, worms
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1870-1890
maker
R. H. McDonald Drug Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1284
catalog number
293320.1284
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1875-1899
maker
Dr. C. I. Shoop
ID Number
MG.293320.1609
catalog number
293320.1609
accession number
293320

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