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
ID Number
1982.0513.05
accession number
1982.0513
catalog number
1982.0513.05
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2001.0314.646
catalog number
2001.0314.646
accession number
2001.0314
ID Number
MG.M-12151.21
catalog number
M-12151.21
accession number
271464
maker
Chas H. Philips Chemical Company
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81508V04
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81522V59
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Johnson and Johnson
ID Number
MG.314016.006
catalog number
314016.006
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: These Pills are unsurpassed as a thorough and active anti-bilious remedy in all acute attacks.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: These Pills are unsurpassed as a thorough and active anti-bilious remedy in all acute attacks.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
pre-1906
maker
Dr. C. Wakefield and Company
ID Number
MG.274347.265
catalog number
274347.265
accession number
274347
catalog number
M-12140
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.313462.048.2
catalog number
313462.48
accession number
313462
date made
1969-1982
maker
Morton - Norwich Products
ID Number
1986.0198.081
accession number
1986.0198
maker
Rucker Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1985.0475.742
catalog number
1985.0475.742
accession number
1985.0475
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ZZ.RSN83148O08
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81522N27
maker
Tailby-Nason Company
ID Number
1985.0475.569
accession number
1985.0475
maker
B.C. Remedy Company
ID Number
1979.1144.041
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.041
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For healing wire cutsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For healing wire cuts
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
W. F. Berry Medicine Company
ID Number
2014.0010.01
catalog number
2014.0010.01
accession number
2014.0010
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.M-12140 [dup26]
catalog number
M-12140
accession number
274347
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81569E01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81515V02
maker
Tru-Lax Manufacturing Company
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81522V01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.141786
catalog number
141786
ID Number
1985.3096.30
catalog number
1985.3096.30
nonaccession number
1985.3096
ID Number
AG.P73.2759.10
catalog number
P73.2759.10
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81550G48
ID Number
MG.274347.165
catalog number
274347.165
M-12141
accession number
274347

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