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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.035
catalog number
M-10757.035
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.105
catalog number
M-10757.105
accession number
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.004
catalog number
M-10757.004
accession number
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.023
catalog number
M-10757.023
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.079
catalog number
M-10757.079
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.043
catalog number
M-10757.043
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.081
catalog number
M-10757.081
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:A stomach tonic. For nervousness, catarrh of the head and stomach, scrofulous humor, canker, pimples and humors on the face, summer complaints, female weaknesses. Restores the appetite, purifies the blood.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
A stomach tonic. For nervousness, catarrh of the head and stomach, scrofulous humor, canker, pimples and humors on the face, summer complaints, female weaknesses. Restores the appetite, purifies the blood. For dyspepsia, constipation, sick headache, dizziness, low spirits caused by disordered stomach, rheumatism, neuralgia, kidney and liver complaints, bilious attacks, piles, malaria, torpidity of the system, languor, general debility, fever and ague.
date made
1885-1908
maker
Quaker Bitters Company
ID Number
MG.M-12151.01
catalog number
M-12151.01
accession number
271464
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.067
catalog number
M-10757.067
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.065
catalog number
M-10757.065
accession number
256193
Dyspepsia and stomach troubles.Currently not on view
Description
Dyspepsia and stomach troubles.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Foster-Milburn Company
ID Number
MG.274347.267
catalog number
274347.267
accession number
274347
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.077
catalog number
M-10757.077
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Dyspepsia, indigestion, rheumatism, diarrhea, consumption, catarrh, bronchitis, neuralgia, headache, boils, ulcers, sore eyes, dropsy, scald head, paralysis, erysipelas, scrofula, tetter, skin diseases,
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Dyspepsia, indigestion, rheumatism, diarrhea, consumption, catarrh, bronchitis, neuralgia, headache, boils, ulcers, sore eyes, dropsy, scald head, paralysis, erysipelas, scrofula, tetter, skin diseases, bilious, remittant and intermittant fevers, pains in the back, shoulders, heart and chest, liver and kidney troubles, stomach ache, jaundice, gout and fits, dizziness, colds and coughs, croup, palpitation of the heart, lead colic, nausea, biliousness, constipation, piles, worms
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1870-1890
maker
R. H. McDonald Drug Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1284
catalog number
293320.1284
accession number
293320
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.070
catalog number
M-10757.070
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.088
catalog number
M-10757.088
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.045
catalog number
M-10757.045
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For dyspepsia, liver complaint, fever and ague, and general debility of the systemCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For dyspepsia, liver complaint, fever and ague, and general debility of the system
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1900
maker
Dr. J. W. Wengert and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10426.52
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Relieves tired feeling and fatigueCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Relieves tired feeling and fatigue
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1906-1938
maker
Griffin Drug Company
ID Number
MG.M-10426.05
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.085
catalog number
M-10757.085
accession number
256193
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.078
catalog number
M-10757.078
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:As a tonic and for weakness, indigestion, dyspepsia, nervousness, sick stomach, general debility, nausea, dysentery, biliousness, asthma, ague and fever, and all other malarious diesases.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
As a tonic and for weakness, indigestion, dyspepsia, nervousness, sick stomach, general debility, nausea, dysentery, biliousness, asthma, ague and fever, and all other malarious diesases. For sudden attacks of cramps, cholera, colic, diarrhea, and cholora morbus. For loss of appetite.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1884-1906
maker
Petzold Drug Company
ID Number
MG.M-09916
catalog number
M-09916
accession number
238503
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.002
catalog number
M-10757.002
accession number
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.028
catalog number
M-10757.028
accession number
256193
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.040
catalog number
M-10757.040
accession number
256193

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