Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

Balm of America Banner image, a collection of medicine

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.

Place: Massachusetts

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.032
catalog number
M-10757.032
accession number
256193

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.030
catalog number
M-10757.030
accession number
256193

Sloan's Nerve & Brain Liniment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.171
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.171

Baker Croup and Whooping Cough Syrup

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Reliable and Safe for Coughs, colds, Sore Throat, hoarseness, croup and Whooping CoughCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Reliable and Safe for Coughs, colds, Sore Throat, hoarseness, croup and Whooping Cough
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Baker, Edwin
ID Number
1978.0235.016
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.016

Hollis' Fluid Extract Cardamon & Ginger

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:A grateful stimulant and tonic; used freely in dyspepsia, flatulent colic, pain in the stomach, faintness, diarrhea, etc.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
A grateful stimulant and tonic; used freely in dyspepsia, flatulent colic, pain in the stomach, faintness, diarrhea, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1890
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup17]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193

Thayers Slippery Elm Lozenges

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: These lozenges are not a confection or candy--they have a real medicinal value to soothe your tired throat to help relieve coughs due to common colds; for hoarseness—"smoker's throat."Currently not on v
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: These lozenges are not a confection or candy--they have a real medicinal value to soothe your tired throat to help relieve coughs due to common colds; for hoarseness—"smoker's throat."
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
Henry Thayer & Company
ID Number
1979.0798.182
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.182

Dr Garst's Cas-Grada Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Phenyo-Caffein Company
ID Number
1978.0883.103.B
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.103.B

Hood's Vegetable Pills

A mild, efficient cathartic and after-dinner pill. Dose, for laxative effect to relieve sick headache and biliousness, two or three Hood's Pills at night, or morning. For purgative effect, three to six pills with draught of water.Currently not on view
Description
A mild, efficient cathartic and after-dinner pill. Dose, for laxative effect to relieve sick headache and biliousness, two or three Hood's Pills at night, or morning. For purgative effect, three to six pills with draught of water.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920s
maker
C. I. Hood Company
ID Number
1981.0219.075
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.075

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.089
catalog number
M-10757.089
accession number
256193

Cuticura Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A gentle alterative tonic, digestive, and aperient for use in the treatment of skin and scalp affections and for promoting the general healthCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A gentle alterative tonic, digestive, and aperient for use in the treatment of skin and scalp affections and for promoting the general health
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Potter Drug and Chemical Corporation
ID Number
1984.0351.098
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.098

Hollis' Vegetable Pectoral Syrup

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Hollis, Thomas
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup72]
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.123
accession number
256193
catalog number
M-10766 [dup72]

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.009
catalog number
M-10757.009
accession number
256193

Father John's Medicine

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Father John's Medicine Co., Inc.
ID Number
2008.0018.292
catalog number
2008.0018.292
accession number
2008.0018

Dr Hyndman's Origninal Black Bottle or Black Mixture

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Coughs, colds, throat irritations, consumption and all lung troublesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Coughs, colds, throat irritations, consumption and all lung troubles
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
After 1906
manufacturer
George B. Sutherland
ID Number
MG.274347.181
catalog number
274347.181
accession number
274347

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.073
catalog number
M-10757.073
accession number
256193

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.067
catalog number
M-10757.067
accession number
256193

Johnson's American Anodyne Liniment

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For coughs, colds, grippy cold, colic, asthmatic distress, bronchial colds, nasal catarrh, cholera morbus, cramps, diarrhea, bruises, common sore throat, burns and scalds, chaps and chafing, chilblains, frost b
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For coughs, colds, grippy cold, colic, asthmatic distress, bronchial colds, nasal catarrh, cholera morbus, cramps, diarrhea, bruises, common sore throat, burns and scalds, chaps and chafing, chilblains, frost bites, muscular rheumatism, soreness, sprains and strains
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
maker
I. S. Johnson and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10409.16
catalog number
M-10409
accession number
246707

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

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

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.055
catalog number
M-10757.055
accession number
256193

Father John's Medicine

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A food medicine. A nutritive tonic.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A food medicine. A nutritive tonic.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1935
maker
Carleton and Hovey Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1213
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1213

Elixir Alterans (Hale)

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Indicated whenever a general tonic is of serviceCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Indicated whenever a general tonic is of service
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1906 - 1936
maker
J.V. Hale Company
ID Number
1978.0235.126
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.126

Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

maker
Thomas Hollis
ID Number
MG.M-10757.065
catalog number
M-10757.065
accession number
256193

Cas-Grada Compound

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For biliousness and constipation.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For biliousness and constipation.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Phenyo-Caffein Company
ID Number
1979.0798.306
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.306

Johnson's American Anodyne Liniment

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For diphtheria, coughs, colds, influenza, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, cramp and pain in the stomach, bowels, or side; rheumatism, spitting of blood, and all lung complaints; sore throat, spinal complain
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For diphtheria, coughs, colds, influenza, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, cramp and pain in the stomach, bowels, or side; rheumatism, spitting of blood, and all lung complaints; sore throat, spinal complaints, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, chapped hands, burns, wounds, sprains and bruises
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881-1906
maker
I. S. Johnson and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10409.15
catalog number
M-10409
accession number
246707

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