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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.072
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.072
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-09905.02
catalog number
M-09905
accession number
238503
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.075
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.075
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10257.40
catalog number
M-10257.40
accession number
241521
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
2008.3006.127
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.127
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: This preparation is recommended for bowel complaints, colic and diarrhoea, summer complaint, cholera morbus and bowel troubles.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: This preparation is recommended for bowel complaints, colic and diarrhoea, summer complaint, cholera morbus and bowel troubles. Externall for rheumatic and neuralgic pains, lame back, lumbago, swellings, bruises, sprains, chilblains, frost bites, sore throat and toothache. Is excellent for colic in horses.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
2008.0018.230
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.230
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.070
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.070
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.073
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.073
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.071
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.071
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-09905.03
catalog number
M-09905
accession number
238503
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.069
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.069
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For constipation, biliousness and headacheCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For constipation, biliousness and headache
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.076
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.076
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Foley family pills for constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Foley family pills for constipation
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.068
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.068
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For incipient Bright's disease, chronic inflammation of the bladder, gravel, irritation of the kidneys, diabetes and nervous exhaustion.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For incipient Bright's disease, chronic inflammation of the bladder, gravel, irritation of the kidneys, diabetes and nervous exhaustion.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1906
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-09905.01
catalog number
M-09905
accession number
238503
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: habitual constipation; stomach, liver and bowels caused by constipation.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: habitual constipation; stomach, liver and bowels caused by constipation.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.38
catalog number
M-10413.38
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Demulcent for coughs, colds, hoarseness, and children's coughsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Demulcent for coughs, colds, hoarseness, and children's coughs
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-09908
catalog number
M-09908
accession number
238503
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For constipation, biliousness and headacheCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For constipation, biliousness and headache
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1910
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1310
catalog number
293320.1310
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For disorders of the stomach, liver, and bowels caused by constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For disorders of the stomach, liver, and bowels caused by constipation
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.29
catalog number
M-10413.29
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Biliousness, constipation and headacheCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Biliousness, constipation and headache
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1918
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.074
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.074
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, cathartic, medicine for billiousness caused by constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, cathartic, medicine for billiousness caused by constipation
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
2008.0018.054
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.054
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:An excellent medicine for billiousness caused by constipation. A wholesome and thoroughly cleansing cathartic for the relief of constipation and its ill-effects.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
An excellent medicine for billiousness caused by constipation. A wholesome and thoroughly cleansing cathartic for the relief of constipation and its ill-effects.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930s
retailer
Sherman Pharmacy
distributor
Foley and Company
ID Number
1985.0460.046
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.046
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Pleasantly Active Cathartic Foley Cathartic Tablets are excellent in cases of temporary constipation as they have a laxative influence upon the entire intestinal tract.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Pleasantly Active Cathartic Foley Cathartic Tablets are excellent in cases of temporary constipation as they have a laxative influence upon the entire intestinal tract. A good medicine for constipation caused by over eating or an unbalanced diet.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca. 1938
date made
after 1938
maker
Foley
Foley and Company
ID Number
1978.0883.061
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.061
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A wholesome and cleansing cathartic, active and useful for constipation and its ill effects, for sluggish liver and bowels, biliousness, and sick headache due to constipation.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A wholesome and cleansing cathartic, active and useful for constipation and its ill effects, for sluggish liver and bowels, biliousness, and sick headache due to constipation. They are excellent in cases of habitual constipation, as they have a laxative influence upon the entire intestinal tract.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1979.0798.343
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.343

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