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: Pennsylvania

Acetidine Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
1985.0481.011
catalog number
1985.0481.011
accession number
1985.0481

5 Drops

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.179
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.179

Cooper's Universal Balm

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1948
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.182
catalog number
2008.0018.182
accession number
2008.0018

Dr. D. Jayne' Indian Expectorant

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dr. D. Jayne
ID Number
MG.256193.341
accession number
256193
catalog number
256193.341
M-10755

Dr. D. Jayne's Alterative

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after August 28, 1888
maker
D. Jayne and Son
ID Number
2012.0046.24
catalog number
2012.0046.24
accession number
2012.0046

Thomson's Tree of Life Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1906-1908
maker
Burk, William C.
ID Number
1984.0782.194
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.194

Lotio Sambuci (Elder Flower Eye Lotion)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
George Evans & Co.
ID Number
1985.0481.085
catalog number
1985.0481.085
accession number
1985.0481

Miller's Universal Balm

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after May, 1949
after May 1949
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.191
catalog number
2008.0018.191
accession number
2008.0018

D. Gosewich's Garlic Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.183
catalog number
2008.0018.183
accession number
2008.0018

Luden's Chlorophyll Cough Drops, Display Box

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Luden's Inc.
ID Number
1999.0320.03.01
accession number
1999.0320
catalog number
1999.0320.03.01

Spencer's Chloramine

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Hoarseness, sore throatCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Hoarseness, sore throat
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
Philadelphia, PA
date made
1880 - 1930
before 1906
maker
John Wyeth & Brother
ID Number
1984.0782.189
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.189

Dr. Groves Anodyne for Infants

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1906-1919
maker
Dr. M. F. Groves Son and Company
ID Number
2012.0165.017
catalog number
2012.0165.017
accession number
2012.0165

Hymacal Wafers

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Antacid AdsorbentCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Antacid Adsorbent
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rossmar Laboratories Inc.
ID Number
MG.314016.100
catalog number
314016.100
accession number
314016

Cramp-Eze

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2002.0138.034
accession number
2002.0138
catalog number
2002.0138.034

Mulford Violets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Sweetens the breathCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Sweetens the breath
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
maker
H. K. Mulford Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1251
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1251

Sevetol

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1915
maker
John Wyeth & Brother
ID Number
1984.0782.182
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.182

Vets Tonic Capsules

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2000.0137.091
accession number
2000.0137
catalog number
2000.0137.091

Kopp's Baby's Friend

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.159
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.159

Trask's Ointment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
on or after September, 1945
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.196
catalog number
2008.0018.196
accession number
2008.0018

Masons Health Defenders White Tablets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for sore throats, tonsilitis, and will reduce imflammationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for sore throats, tonsilitis, and will reduce imflammation
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Henry J. Mason
ID Number
MG.313462.029
catalog number
313462.29
accession number
313462

Dr. Charles Meyer Purgative Mandrake Pellets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A concentrated, safe and pleasant sugar coated cathartic pellet for bilious diseases.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A concentrated, safe and pleasant sugar coated cathartic pellet for bilious diseases.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Meyers, Charles
ID Number
2008.0018.102
catalog number
2008.0018.102
accession number
2008.0018

Mendenhall's Malaria Chill and Fever Tonic with Arsenic (Alcohol 1.5%)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950s
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2016.0295.01
catalog number
2016.0295.01
accession number
2016.0295

Hamlins Wizard Oil Liniment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.187
catalog number
2008.0018.187
accession number
2008.0018

Rite Aid Aspirin

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1981
product expiration date
1982-09
ID Number
1982.0350.14
accession number
1982.0350
catalog number
1982.0350.14

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