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.

Useful in the treatment of cuts, bruises, fever, sores, burns, scalds and minor irritations of the skin and scalp.Currently not on view
Description
Useful in the treatment of cuts, bruises, fever, sores, burns, scalds and minor irritations of the skin and scalp.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930
maker
Pfeiffer Chemical Company
ID Number
1981.0219.064
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.064
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: useful in ringworm, itch, chronic scaly eczemaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: useful in ringworm, itch, chronic scaly eczema
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1917
maker
Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.293320.3193
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.3193
Brown cardboard box with black print label: "The Standard Healing Salve / Panacea /Ointment / Prepared By / Luyties Pharmacal Company / St. Louis, MO.", and a round paper label on the back. Box contains a gold-colored ointment tin with embossed top: LUYTIES / PANACEA / ST.
Description
Brown cardboard box with black print label: "The Standard Healing Salve / Panacea /Ointment / Prepared By / Luyties Pharmacal Company / St. Louis, MO.", and a round paper label on the back. Box contains a gold-colored ointment tin with embossed top: LUYTIES / PANACEA / ST. LOUIS, MO. and a round paper label on the bottom. Label lists ingredients and directions for use. Contents - 1 Ounce.
Indications/Use as per product label: A healing ointment for minor wounds, burns, sprains and scalds. Apply night and morning and cover with a bandage. Also useful as a counter-irritant in colds and coughs following colds. Apply the ointment hot on linen over throat and chest and cover with flannel.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Luyties Pharmacal Co.
ID Number
MG.311682.0615
catalog number
311682.0615
accession number
311682
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.265
catalog number
1978.0883.265
accession number
1978.0883
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.0018.256
catalog number
2008.0018.256
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1945
maker
Lewis-Howe Company
ID Number
2008.0018.081
catalog number
2008.0018.081
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dr. Herrick's Family Medicine Company
James F. Ballard, Inc.
ID Number
2008.0018.240
catalog number
2008.0018.240
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920s
maker
Pfeiffer Chemical Company
ID Number
1979.1144.068
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.068
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rexall Drug Company
ID Number
1993.0384.019
catalog number
1993.0384.019
accession number
1993.0384
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Location
Currently not on view
Maker
Sargon Products, Inc.
maker
Samuel Sales Company
ID Number
MG.274347.225
catalog number
274347.225
accession number
274347
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1983.0871.01
catalog number
1983.0817.01
accession number
1983.0817
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1878
after 1891
maker
Paris Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.3006.163
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.163
Relieve pain, irritation and discomfort of pilesCurrently not on view
Description
Relieve pain, irritation and discomfort of piles
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1953
maker
Rexall Drug Company
ID Number
1981.0219.065
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.065
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Heart tonicCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Heart tonic
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2009.0097.01
accession number
2009.0097
catalog number
2009.0097.01
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: adults, one-half to two teaspoonfuls three times a day; 7 to 12 years old, twenty to thirty drops three times a day.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: adults, one-half to two teaspoonfuls three times a day; 7 to 12 years old, twenty to thirty drops three times a day.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1926
ID Number
1984.0782.076
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.076
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: a sedative for its quieting effect in sleeplessness, restlessness, nervous irritability and nervous tension headaches.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: a sedative for its quieting effect in sleeplessness, restlessness, nervous irritability and nervous tension headaches.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Pfeiffer Company
ID Number
1985.0475.491
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.491
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An antiseptic surgical dressing for sunburn, cuts, chaps, wounds, itching, stings, etc. Soothes and aids healing.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An antiseptic surgical dressing for sunburn, cuts, chaps, wounds, itching, stings, etc. Soothes and aids healing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1934
maker
Grove Laboratories
ID Number
2012.0165.734
catalog number
2012.0165.734
accession number
2012.0165
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1935 - 1965
maker
Lambert Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1993.0331.082
catalog number
1993.0331.082
accession number
1993.0331
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A valuable hypnotic, anodyne and antispasmodic preparation, offered the medical profession in the line of definite therapy. The rationale of formula is self-evident.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A valuable hypnotic, anodyne and antispasmodic preparation, offered the medical profession in the line of definite therapy. The rationale of formula is self-evident. Its value in the relief of pain -- the manifold conditions of unrest, insomnia, etc., may be quickly demonstrated.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908 - 1918
maker
Tilden Company
ID Number
MG.M-07219
catalog number
M-07219
accession number
220009
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer or by reference literature from the period are:Cortical epilepsy, excessive sexual desire, stychnine poisoning and tetanus, convulsion in children due to intestinal and stomachic derangement., chorea, deliri
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer or by reference literature from the period are:
Cortical epilepsy, excessive sexual desire, stychnine poisoning and tetanus, convulsion in children due to intestinal and stomachic derangement., chorea, delirium tremons, climacteric period in women, migraine, female pelvic diseases of reflex nature; as headache ovarian neuralgia, and increased sensibility of all parts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1935-1950s
maker
Od Peacock Sultan Company
ID Number
1984.0782.146
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.146
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For athlete's foot and other superficial fungous infections of the skin; antifungal; antibacterialCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For athlete's foot and other superficial fungous infections of the skin; antifungal; antibacterial
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pfeiffer Company
ID Number
1985.0475.052
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.052
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, catharticCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, cathartic
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s
maker
C. I. Hood Company
ID Number
2008.0018.066
catalog number
2008.0018.066
accession number
2008.0018
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Analgesic, Antipyretic, LaxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Analgesic, Antipyretic, Laxative
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Grove Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.061
catalog number
2008.0018.061
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Lambert Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1978.0883.267
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.267

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