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: Used to advance healing of minor cuts, scratches, burns, and lesser skin irritations.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Used to advance healing of minor cuts, scratches, burns, and lesser skin irritations.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1938
maker
Dill Company
ID Number
1979.0798.070
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.070
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Ordinary headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and pains.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Ordinary headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and pains.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1918-1938
maker
Dill Company
ID Number
1979.0798.383
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.383
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the relief of minor burns or wounds, chapped or cracked skin, insect stings, small cuts or scratches.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the relief of minor burns or wounds, chapped or cracked skin, insect stings, small cuts or scratches.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Dill Company
ID Number
1979.0798.154
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.154
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Ordinary headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and pains.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Ordinary headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and pains.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1918-1938
maker
Dill Company
ID Number
1979.0798.382
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.382
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Ordinary headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and painsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Ordinary headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and pains
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1930
maker
Dill Company
ID Number
1979.0798.381
catalog number
1979.0798.381
accession number
1979.0798
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A diuretic stimulant for the kidneys.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A diuretic stimulant for the kidneys.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1930
maker
Dill Company
ID Number
1979.0798.168
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.168

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