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: Dissolve in glass of water and drink at 3 p.m. Follow with two glasses of water within half-hour.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Dissolve in glass of water and drink at 3 p.m. Follow with two glasses of water within half-hour.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1910
maker
George H. Mayr's Manufacturing Chemist
ID Number
1984.0782.177
catalog number
1984.0782.177
accession number
1984.0782
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
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An aid in expelling and destroying large round worms.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An aid in expelling and destroying large round worms.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Byron Field & Co.
ID Number
2008.0018.087
catalog number
2008.0018.087
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Associated Name
Sherman Pharmacy
maker
Red Star Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0460.033
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.033
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Indicated as a Sedative for Simple Nervousness, Simple Neuralgia, Restlesness, Minor Headaches and Common Sea, Train, Auto and Airplane Sickness.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Indicated as a Sedative for Simple Nervousness, Simple Neuralgia, Restlesness, Minor Headaches and Common Sea, Train, Auto and Airplane Sickness. It is also useful as an aid to other treatment for Tobacco and Alcohol excess.;
Is recommended for use in the following ailments: Epilepsy and Hysteria, Nervousness, Sleeplessness, Neuralgia, Nervous Dyspepsia, and Nervous Irritation. nervous Headache and other Nervous Disturbances. Nervine is also useful as an aid to other treatment for Tobacco and Alcoholic Excess
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1938
ca. 1938
distributor
Oakland Laboratories
referenced
Miles Laboratories
maker
Oakland Laboratories
ID Number
ZZ.RSN83048760
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
DeWitt International Corporation
ID Number
1985.0481.081
catalog number
1985.0481.081
accession number
1985.0481
Red yellow and black ointment tin. "The best remedy for piles / An antiseptic healing dressing / for general family use, for all burns, / cuts, old sores and skin diseases. / Price 25 cents.
Description
Red yellow and black ointment tin. "The best remedy for piles / An antiseptic healing dressing / for general family use, for all burns, / cuts, old sores and skin diseases. / Price 25 cents. / Holman / Chicago"
"Guaranteed pure and harmless / The best remedy for all chronic skin disease"
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0798.153
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.153
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1908
c. 1906 -1908
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup24]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Abbott Laboratories
ID Number
1984.0351.148
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.148
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1900
date made
after 1915
maker
H.K. Mulford Company
ID Number
1984.0782.174
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.174
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Dissolve in glass of hot water and drink upon getting up following morning; then drink two more glasses of water within two hour.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Dissolve in glass of hot water and drink upon getting up following morning; then drink two more glasses of water within two hour.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1910
maker
George H. Mayr's Manufacturing Chemist
ID Number
1984.0782.306
catalog number
1984.0782.306
accession number
1984.0782
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Most Pleasant Cathartic PillCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Most Pleasant Cathartic Pill
Location
Currently not on view
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
2009.0097.03
accession number
2009.0097
catalog number
2009.0097.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Abbott Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0475.661
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.661
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
date made
before 1938
circa 1920
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
2008.0018.024
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.024
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1945 (see note)
after 1945 (see note)
maker
Bovinine Company
ID Number
1988.3089.130
catalog number
1988.3089.130
nonaccession number
1988.3089
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
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: High blood pressure; hypertension; autointoxications and arteriosclerosis or hardened arteries; not only to lessen high blood pressure but to relieve the intestinal toxemia which is so marked a factor i
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: High blood pressure; hypertension; autointoxications and arteriosclerosis or hardened arteries; not only to lessen high blood pressure but to relieve the intestinal toxemia which is so marked a factor in arterial tension
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
After 1906
maker
Orion Pharmaceutical Co.
ID Number
MG.274347.177
catalog number
274347.177
accession number
274347
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
1985.0481.045
catalog number
1985.0481.045
accession number
1985.0481
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Is prepared especially with the most, scrupulous care for one of the most offensive and distressing complaints- Nasal Cattarh, the constant dropping of virus which poisons the system, attacks the Bronch
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Is prepared especially with the most, scrupulous care for one of the most offensive and distressing complaints- Nasal Cattarh, the constant dropping of virus which poisons the system, attacks the Bronchial Tubes and frequently destroys the bones of the nose, injures the hearing and destroys the sense of smell
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.041
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.041
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.155
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.155
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.168
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.168
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A soothing application for massaging the feet. Aids in relieving sensitive, tired feet, tenderness, burning sensation and muscular soreness caused by exertion and fatigue.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A soothing application for massaging the feet. Aids in relieving sensitive, tired feet, tenderness, burning sensation and muscular soreness caused by exertion and fatigue.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960s
maker
Scholl Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2008.0018.260
catalog number
2008.0018.260
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1976
maker
Morton - Norwich Products
ID Number
1986.0198.026
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.026

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