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:Removal of corns and callusesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Removal of corns and calluses
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1203
catalog number
293320.1203
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: expectorant for coughs, colds, hoarseness, tickling in throat, bronchial coughs and coughs from La Grippe; mildly laxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: expectorant for coughs, colds, hoarseness, tickling in throat, bronchial coughs and coughs from La Grippe; mildly laxative
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 5/5/1921
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.M-09909
catalog number
M-09909
accession number
238503
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For indigestion and dyspepsiaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For indigestion and dyspepsia
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c 1925
ca 1925
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1207
catalog number
293320.1207
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:An expectorant for coughs, colds, hoarseness, tickling in throat, bronchial coughs, and coughs resulting from la grippe [influenza]Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:
An expectorant for coughs, colds, hoarseness, tickling in throat, bronchial coughs, and coughs resulting from la grippe [influenza]
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1921 -1938
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.M-10426.43
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Relieves constipation, biliousness, sour stomach, bad breathCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Relieves constipation, biliousness, sour stomach, bad breath
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1925
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1391
catalog number
293320.1391
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:An Expectorant for Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Tickling in throat, Bronchial Coughs, and Coughs resulting from La Grippe.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:
An Expectorant for Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Tickling in throat, Bronchial Coughs, and Coughs resulting from La Grippe.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1975
before 1975
before 1975
before 1975
1908-1918
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.314016.068
catalog number
314016.68
accession number
314016
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For indigestion and dyspepsiaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For indigestion and dyspepsia
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1925
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1206
catalog number
293320.1206
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Externally for rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia, sprains, sore muscles, lame back, lumbago, stiff joints, wounds, tender feet, etc.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Externally for rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia, sprains, sore muscles, lame back, lumbago, stiff joints, wounds, tender feet, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1900
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
1979.0798.132
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.132

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