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: United States

Ma-Le-Na Worm Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1910
maker
Malena Company
ID Number
MG.254865.30
accession number
254865
catalog number
254865.30

Bottle

Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." Tha syrup was on the market by 1865. In 1913, the A.M.A.
Description
Greenish glass bottle with embossed inscriptions that read "SCHENCK'S / PULMONIC / SYRUP / PHILADA." Tha syrup was on the market by 1865. In 1913, the A.M.A. reported that it was “essentially a wintergreen-flavored mixture of saccharin syrups.” In 1914, an attorney for the Southern District of New York, seized and condemned several cases of the pulmonic syrup, claiming they were misbranded in violation of the federal Pure Food and Drug Act.
Ref: Full page ad for J. H. Schenck’s Pulmonic Syrup in New York Times (Nov. 18, 1865), p. 3.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.65.2072
accession number
256516
catalog number
65.2072

Renne's Pain Killing Magic Oil

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
L. W. Warner & Co., Inc.
ID Number
MG.293320.3192
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.3192

Wilton's Catarrh Cure

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rogers, Fuller & Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1611
catalog number
293320.1611
accession number
293320

Wilton's Catarrh Cure

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the permanent cure of catarrh, headaches, and all nervous pains.This Medicine is taken through a Patent Inhaling Tube, or from the Hand.For Catarrh, Fill the tube with the liquid and insert the bulb
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the permanent cure of catarrh, headaches, and all nervous pains.
This Medicine is taken through a Patent Inhaling Tube, or from the Hand.
For Catarrh, Fill the tube with the liquid and insert the bulb in one nostril, and close the other nostril with the finger, and then snuff as quickly as possible that the liquid may be thrown up high into the head. Repeat the dose til it passes over into the throat. Do this on retiring for the night, and when you get up in the morning. [. . . ]
For Headache, and all Nervous Pain in the Head, Fill the tube as before, and snuff the liquid up the nostrils as high as possible, repeating the dose every few minutes until all pain is removed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1868 - 1870
maker
Rogers, Fuller and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.3191
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.3191

Mead's Dextri-Maltose B, with Yeast Extract and Iron

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Mead Johnson Laboratories
ID Number
1984.0351.138
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.138

Casec

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Mead Johnson Laboratories
ID Number
1984.0351.144
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.144

Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950s
ID Number
1985.0475.509
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.509

Dupree Pills, Double Strength

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1993.0384.020
catalog number
1993.0384.020
accession number
1993.0384

Luyties Panacea Ointment

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

California Tuna Tonic Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.082E
catalog number
1978.0883.082E
accession number
1978.0883

California Tuna Tonic Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.082F
catalog number
1978.0883.082F
accession number
1978.0883

Warner's Safe Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Warner's Safe Remedies Company
ID Number
1978.0883.068C
accession number
1978.0883

Warner's Safe Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Warner's Safe Remedies Company
ID Number
1978.0883.068A
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.068A

Spim Greatest of Blood and Skin Remedies

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.079A
catalog number
1978.0883.079A
accession number
1978.0883

California Tuna Tonic Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908 - 1918
ID Number
1978.0883.082A
catalog number
1978.0883.082A
accession number
1978.0883

Dr. Spiegel's Stomach & Liver Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dr M. Spiegel
ID Number
1978.0883.077.A
catalog number
1978.0883.077.A
accession number
1978.0883

Ponpanic Liniment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.265
catalog number
1978.0883.265
accession number
1978.0883

Burtone Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
United Store Company
ID Number
1978.0883.070B
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.070B

Gardner's Syrup of Hydriodicacid

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.193
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.193

California Tuna Tonic Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.082C
catalog number
1978.0883.082C
accession number
1978.0883

Jayne's Laxative Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dr. D. Jayne and Son
ID Number
1978.0883.069.B
catalog number
1978.0883.069.B
accession number
1978.0883

California Tuna Tonic Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.082D
catalog number
1978.0883.082D
accession number
1978.0883

Norman's Indian Worm Pellets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.226.A
catalog number
1978.0883.226.A
accession number
1978.0883

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