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
maker
H. K. Mulford Company
ID Number
2000.0137.059
accession number
2000.0137
catalog number
2000.0137.059
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
Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." Tha syrup was on the market by 1865. In 1913, the A.M.A.
Description
Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." Tha syrup was on the market by 1865. In 1913, the A.M.A. reported that it was “essentially a wintergreen-flavored mixture of saccharin syrups.” In 1914, an attorney for the Southern District of New York, seized and condemned several cases of the pulmonic syrup, claiming they were misbranded in violation of the federal Pure Food and Drug Act.
Ref: Full page ad for J. H. Schenck’s Pulmonic Syrup in New York Times (Nov. 18, 1865), p. 3.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.65.2072
accession number
256516
catalog number
65.2072
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dr. D. Jayne and Son
ID Number
1978.0883.069.B
catalog number
1978.0883.069.B
accession number
1978.0883
Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." The syrup was on the market by 1865. The A.M.A.
Description
Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." The syrup was on the market by 1865. The A.M.A. reported in 1913 that it was “essentially a wintergreen-flavored mixture of saccharin syrups.” In 1914, an attorney for the Southern District of New York, seized and condemned several cases of Schenck’s pulmonic syrup, claiming they were misbranded in violation of the federal Pure Food and Drug Act.
Ref: Full page ad for J. H. Schenck’s Pulmonic Syrup in New York Times (Nov. 18, 1865), p. 3.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.65.2073
accession number
256516
catalog number
65.2073
Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." The A.M.A.
Description
Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." The A.M.A. reported in 1913 that Schenck’s syrup was “essentially a wintergreen-flavored mixture of saccharin syrups.” In 1914, an attorney for the Southern District of New York, seized and condemned several cases of Schenck’s pulmonic syrup, claiming they were misbranded in violation of the federal Pure Food and Drug Act.
Ref: Full page ad for J. H. Schenck’s Pulmonic Syrup in New York Times (Nov. 18, 1865), p. 3.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.1528
catalog number
293320.1528
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
John Wyeth & Brother
ID Number
1978.0235.206.2
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.206.2
serial number
1092575
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.188
catalog number
2008.0018.188
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the temporary relief of minor aches, pains, headaches and feverCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the temporary relief of minor aches, pains, headaches and fever
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1982
maker
McNeil Laboratories
ID Number
2012.0165.002
catalog number
2012.0165.002
accession number
2012.0165
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0481.341
catalog number
1985.0481.341
accession number
1985.0481
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
United Medicine Co.
ID Number
2008.0018.064
catalog number
2008.0018.064
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: FOR RELIEF OF PAIN from simple HEADACHE & NEURALGIA also useful IN COMMON COLDSCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: FOR RELIEF OF PAIN from simple HEADACHE & NEURALGIA also useful IN COMMON COLDS
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
1985.0481.010
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.010
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
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s-1930s
ID Number
1979.1144.067
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.067
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Smith, Kline & French Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0475.639
catalog number
1985.475.639
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1998.0252.030
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.030
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Henry K. Wampole and Company
ID Number
2008.3006.169
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.169
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dr. D. Jayne
ID Number
2008.3006.148
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.148
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Henry K. Wampole and Company
ID Number
1985.0481.181
catalog number
1985.0481.181
accession number
1985.0481
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Vick Chemical Company
ID Number
1998.0267.15
accession number
1998.0267
catalog number
1998.0267.15
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Henry K. Wampole and Company
ID Number
1978.0235.192
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.192
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Hypnotic, Cerebral Sedative and AntispasmodicCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Hypnotic, Cerebral Sedative and Antispasmodic
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0936.03
accession number
1979.0936
catalog number
1979.0936.03
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for sore throats, tonsilitis, and will reduce imflammationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for sore throats, tonsilitis, and will reduce imflammation
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Henry J. Mason
ID Number
MG.313462.028
catalog number
313462.28
accession number
313462
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1998.0102.23
catalog number
1998.0102.23
accession number
1998.0102

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