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.

Place: New York

Dare's Elixir Mentha Pepsin

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: as an aid to digestionCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: as an aid to digestion
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1927
maker
Dare's Mentha-Pepsin Co.
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81512R02

Unguentine First Aid Aerofilm, 4 Oz, $1.49

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960's
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.087
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.087

Radway's Regulators

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1921
maker
Radway & Company Inc.
ID Number
MG.302607.173
catalog number
302607.173
accession number
302607

Poison Ivy Lotion, 4 Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.062
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.062

Dr. Hobson's Headache Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920s
maker
Pfeiffer Chemical Company
ID Number
1979.1144.068
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.068

NP-27, for Athlete's Foot and Ringworm, 1 1/2 oz. avoir.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1967
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.047
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.047

Unguentine Ointment, 1.14 Oz, 50 Cents

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960's
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.088
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
v

Doan's Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Foster-Milburn Company
ID Number
ZZ.RSN81508V07

Ramon's Co-Tabs

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To help ease the headache, runny nose, and aches and pains of common colds.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To help ease the headache, runny nose, and aches and pains of common colds.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1940
maker
Brown Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2008.0018.090
catalog number
2008.0018.090
accession number
2008.0018

Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pierce's Proprietaries, Inc.
ID Number
2008.0018.288
catalog number
2008.0018.288
accession number
2008.0018

Ocusol Eyedrops, New Bottle, 6 Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1976
maker
Morton - Norwich Products
ID Number
1986.0198.049
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.049

Comtrex Night Time, Liquid, 6 Fl. Oz.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bristol-Myers Co.
ID Number
1998.0252.033
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.033

Norwich Aspirin, 325mg, 500 Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.039
catalog number
1984.0718.039
accession number
1984.0718

Pepto-Bismol, 4 Fl. Oz.

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For indigestion; nausea; diarrheaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For indigestion; nausea; diarrhea
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca. 1988
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.025
catalog number
1984.0718.025
accession number
1984.0718

Aspirin Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1935
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
McKesson and Robbins
ID Number
1984.0351.196B
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.196B

Mexican Mustang Liniment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Lyon Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2008.3006.160
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.160

Twenty Grand Aspirin

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1982.0492.04
accession number
1982.0492
catalog number
1982.0492.04

Dr Thomas' Eclectic Oil

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ZZ.RSN83048756

Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
W. H. Comstock Company
ID Number
2008.0018.200
catalog number
2008.0018.200
accession number
2008.0018

Brandreth's Pills

[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
after 1868
Associated Name
Brandreth Pill Works
maker
Brandreth Pill Works
ID Number
MG.293320.1161
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1161

Unguentine Ointment, 7.5 Oz,

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1966
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.084
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.084

Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, catharticCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, cathartic
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pierce's Proprietaries, Inc.
ID Number
2008.0018.043
catalog number
2008.0018.043
accession number
2008.0018

Tabloid Ferad

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burroughs Wellcome and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10903.096
catalog number
M-10903.096
accession number
259201

Garfield Headache Powder

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920s-1940s
maker
Garfield Tea Company
ID Number
MG.M-10255
catalog number
M-10255
accession number
241521

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