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.

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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.

Topic: Foot Products

Jim Crow Corn Salve

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Generally removes corns and bunions in 3 to 5 daysCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Generally removes corns and bunions in 3 to 5 days
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
J. J. Fleck
ID Number
1979.0798.349
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.349

Dr. Hunt's New Corn Cure

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Removes corns, bunions, and callusesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Removes corns, bunions, and calluses
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
American Chemical Company
ID Number
1979.0798.395
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.395

Raccoon Antiseptic Corn Plasters

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Raccon Corn Plaster is guaranteed to remove the corn, if directions on enclosed circular are followed, or you money will be returned.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Raccon Corn Plaster is guaranteed to remove the corn, if directions on enclosed circular are followed, or you money will be returned. Its action is free from pain and the soft fel pad protets the toe from soreness and pressure while the Raccoon medication is doing the owrk of killg and loosening the corn so that it may be completely removed without danger of infection.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Orator F. Woodward
ID Number
1981.0787.14
accession number
1981.0787
catalog number
1981.0787.14

Mosso's Oil of Salt

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Valuable in the treatment of bruises, sunburn, poison ivy, burns and scalds, tender feet, insect bitesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Valuable in the treatment of bruises, sunburn, poison ivy, burns and scalds, tender feet, insect bites
Location
Currently not on view
maker
C. A. Mosso Laboratories
ID Number
1981.0170.054
accession number
1981.0170
catalog number
1981.0170.054

Gypsy Foot Relief

[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]Currently not on view
Description
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Hi Gypsy Company
ID Number
1979.0798.158
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.158

Tri-Une Foot Powder

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For the relief of tired, burning, aching feetCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For the relief of tired, burning, aching feet
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Turlington Chemical Company
ID Number
1980.0698.101
accession number
1980.0698
catalog number
1980.0698.101

Criswell's National Corn Remover

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Removes corns, warts and callusesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Removes corns, warts and calluses
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Criswell's Chemical Company
ID Number
1979.0798.352
catalog number
1979.0798.352
accession number
1979.0798

Loxol Pain-Expeller

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: The reliable family liniment for muscular aches and pains, rheumatic pains, chest cold discomforts, nasal congestion or coughs caused by colds, muscular lumbago, stiff neck due to exposure, neuralgia, s
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: The reliable family liniment for muscular aches and pains, rheumatic pains, chest cold discomforts, nasal congestion or coughs caused by colds, muscular lumbago, stiff neck due to exposure, neuralgia, strains, sprains, bruises, burning, tired feet
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1940
maker
F. Ad. Richter and Company
ID Number
1979.0798.122
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.122

Gets-It for Corns

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For corns, calluses, warts, and bunions. Allays inflammation.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For corns, calluses, warts, and bunions. Allays inflammation.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910
maker
E. Lawrence and Company
ID Number
1979.0798.314
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.314

Good Samaritan Ointment

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To be used as an external poultice.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To be used as an external poultice. Good Samaritan ointment, an antiphlogistic and antiseptic preparation, is to be used as an aid in the treatment of the following affections: surface burns and scalds, sunburn, windburn, chapped hands, dry or cracked skin, relief of corn pains, and other skin irritations. Acts beneficially when used as a poultice for strains and minor muscular aches, caused by fatigue or exertion, and tender, tired, or burning feet.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1929
maker
Good Samaritan Ointment Company
ID Number
1979.0798.176
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.176

Litefoot Corn and Callus Remover

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Corn and callus removerCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Corn and callus remover
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Lite Foot Company
ID Number
1979.0798.171
catalog number
1979.0798.0171
accession number
1979.0798

Dr. Scholl's Foot Balm

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For relief of sore, tender, aching, perspiring feet, corns, bunions and pain of rheumatism.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For relief of sore, tender, aching, perspiring feet, corns, bunions and pain of rheumatism.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1933
maker
Scholl Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1979.0798.207
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.207

Foot-Geen

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For tired, tender aching feet, chafing, foot soreness due to exercise and fatigueCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For tired, tender aching feet, chafing, foot soreness due to exercise and fatigue
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1935
maker
S. Pfeiffer Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1980.0698.062
accession number
1980.0698
catalog number
1980.0698.062

Crane's Penetrating Liniment

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Externally for rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia, sprains, sore muscles, lame back, lumbago, stiff joints, wounds, tender feet, etc.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Externally for rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia, sprains, sore muscles, lame back, lumbago, stiff joints, wounds, tender feet, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1900
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
1979.0798.132
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.132

Hydrophen White Ointment

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For athlete's foot, ringworm and other fungus and bacterial skin infectionsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For athlete's foot, ringworm and other fungus and bacterial skin infections
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1960
maker
Amfre-Grant, Inc.
ID Number
1980.0698.099
accession number
1980.0698
catalog number
1980.0698.099

Tetterine - for Relieving Skin Irritations

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:for relieving Skin Irritations, Ringworm, Athlete's Foot, Itching, Soften and Remove crust in Eczema, Ground Itch (not hookworm,) Loose Dandruff, Itching Scalp, Surface Corns, CallousesCurrently not on v
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
for relieving Skin Irritations, Ringworm, Athlete's Foot, Itching, Soften and Remove crust in Eczema, Ground Itch (not hookworm,) Loose Dandruff, Itching Scalp, Surface Corns, Callouses
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1929
maker
Shuptrine Co.
ID Number
2005.0100.057
catalog number
2005.0100.057
accession number
2005.0100

Cornease

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2002.3059.15
catalog number
2002.3059.15
nonaccession number
2002.3059

Victory Ointment

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Recommended for the relief of externally caused skin conditions.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Recommended for the relief of externally caused skin conditions. Itching of eczema, psoriasis, industrial skin irritations, chafing, minor burns or sunburn, chapped hands or face, athlete's foot, first aid. A soothing ointment that promotes healing and is pain relieving. Use with confidence.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Drexel Laboratories
ID Number
2005.0100.066
catalog number
2005.0100.066
accession number
2005.0100

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