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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More Information
Learn more about patent medicine history and how this history is revealed in examples from our collection. Questions or comments? Contact us.

Date: 1890s

Wood's Female Medicine

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Female diseases; where a sexual tonic is necessary to bring about a regular and perfect function to the female organization, increase flow where it is scanty, improve appetite and digestion, suppressed
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Female diseases; where a sexual tonic is necessary to bring about a regular and perfect function to the female organization, increase flow where it is scanty, improve appetite and digestion, suppressed menstruation that may be due to cold, debility of the blood, or ovaries. Cures prolapsus or falling of the womb, leucorrhoea or whites, ulcerations and kindred affections at the dreaded period of cessation, or change of life, which is often characterized by headache, fainting spells, general debility, spasmodic affections, hypochondria, melancholy, pains in the loins or limbs, apparent letting down of the whole system, hysteria, etc. Anemia
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Wood Drug Company
ID Number
2012.0165.021
catalog number
2012.0165.021
accession number
2012.0165

Spiller's Golden Tonic

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Blood, stomach, bowels, liver, great nerve tonic and all affections arising therefrom, such as general debility, loss of strength, sour stomach, headache, flatulency, colic, cramp, constipation, diarrhoe
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Blood, stomach, bowels, liver, great nerve tonic and all affections arising therefrom, such as general debility, loss of strength, sour stomach, headache, flatulency, colic, cramp, constipation, diarrhoea, sick headaches, dizziness, sleeplessness, vomiting, and palpitation of the heart. Specially good for diseases common to women, particularly recommended for the many affectations which occur at the changes of life, such as flushing, sweatings, headache, tremblings, sleeplessness, nervousness, irritibility, etc. etc.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1895
maker
Golden Tonic Company
ID Number
2008.3006.196
catalog number
2008.3006.196
nonaccession number
2008.3006

Dr. Burkart's Vegetable Compound

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: In chronic cases of constipation, torpid liver, stomach trouble, the patient should take two tablets the first night and one thereafterCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: In chronic cases of constipation, torpid liver, stomach trouble, the patient should take two tablets the first night and one thereafter
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1898
maker
Dr. W. S. Burkhart
ID Number
2009.0097.04
accession number
2009.0097
catalog number
2009.0097.04

Sanborn's Compound Vegetable Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Headache. Antibilious. Cathartic pills.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Headache. Antibilious. Cathartic pills.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1866 - 1890
ID Number
1984.0782.178
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.178

Jayne's Sanative Pills for Liver Complaints

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: liver complaints, jaundice, dyspepsia, fevers, nervousness, impurity of the blood, inflammation, costiveness, pains in the head, breast, side of the back and the limbsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: liver complaints, jaundice, dyspepsia, fevers, nervousness, impurity of the blood, inflammation, costiveness, pains in the head, breast, side of the back and the limbs
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c.1898
maker
D. Jayne and Son
ID Number
1984.0782.102
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.102

Dr Johnson's Catarrh and Headache Cure

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1890
maker
J.G. Johnson
ID Number
1978.0235.142
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.142

Smith's P-B Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Gentle laxative acting on Liver and BowlesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Gentle laxative acting on Liver and Bowles
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1898
maker
C. F. Smith
ID Number
1978.0235.137
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.137

Robert J. Pierce's Empress Brand Tansy, Cotton Root, Pennyroyal and Apiol Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1899
maker
Robert J. Pierce's Empress Brand
ID Number
1978.0883.195
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.195

Bee Hive Brand Castoria

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A good remidy for consitpation, sour stomach, diarrhoea due to constipation, works and PROMOTES SLEEP by overcoming these DISORDERS.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A good remidy for consitpation, sour stomach, diarrhoea due to constipation, works and PROMOTES SLEEP by overcoming these DISORDERS.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1896
maker
C. W. Link Drug Co., Inc.
ID Number
1977.0941.16
accession number
1977.0941
catalog number
1977.0941.16

Dr Ward's Vegetable Asthmatic Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For Coughs, Colds, Asthmatic Complaints, &c.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For Coughs, Colds, Asthmatic Complaints, &c.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca. 1890
ID Number
1978.0235.308
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.308

Dr Johnson's Catarrh and Headache Cure

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1890
maker
J.G. Johnson
ID Number
1978.0235.141
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.141

Smith's P-B Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Gentle laxative acting on Liver and BowlesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Gentle laxative acting on Liver and Bowles
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1898
maker
C. F. Smith
ID Number
1978.0235.136
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.136

Cockle's Compound

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Antibilious PillsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Antibilious Pills
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1890
maker
E. Fougera and Company
ID Number
1980.0678.39
accession number
1980.0678
catalog number
1980.0678.39

Blair's Gout and Rheumatic Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For gout, rheumatismCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging: For gout, rheumatism
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th century
ca 1890
Associated Name
Tupper's Pharmacy
maker
H. Planten and Son
Prout and Harsant
ID Number
1980.0698.044
accession number
1980.0698
catalog number
1980.0698.044

Saturday Night

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Nerve, Brain and Muscle TonicCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Nerve, Brain and Muscle Tonic
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1898
maker
Ward Drug Company
ID Number
1981.0170.051
accession number
1981.0170
catalog number
1981.0170.051

Acker's Dyspepsia Tablets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Invaluable for all complaints arising from indigestion, flatulence, heartburn, headache, rising of the food, colic distresses after eating, and many other disagreeable and painful symptoms arising from
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Invaluable for all complaints arising from indigestion, flatulence, heartburn, headache, rising of the food, colic distresses after eating, and many other disagreeable and painful symptoms arising from dyspepsia.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1895
maker
W. H. Hooker and Company
ID Number
1979.0798.106
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.106

Dr. Fowler's Ext. of Wild Strawberry

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Cures Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Cramps, Colic, Cholera Morbus, Cholera Infantum, Summer Complaints, and all Looseness of the Bowels, Sea Sickness etc. etc.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Cures Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Cramps, Colic, Cholera Morbus, Cholera Infantum, Summer Complaints, and all Looseness of the Bowels, Sea Sickness etc. etc.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1890
maker
Foster-Milburn Company
ID Number
2004.0050.05
accession number
2004.0050
catalog number
2004.0050.05

Dr. Shoop's Rheumatic Remedy

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the Cure of Rheumatism, and Rheumatic and Neuralgic Pains, Swollen Joints, Etc. Etc.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the Cure of Rheumatism, and Rheumatic and Neuralgic Pains, Swollen Joints, Etc. Etc.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1890
maker
Dr. C. I. Shoop
ID Number
2004.0050.15
accession number
2004.0050
catalog number
2004.0050.15

Larrabee's Rheumatic Liniment

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Sovereign Specific for Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Catarrh, Toothache and all kinds of Aches and Pains; and also for Headache, when proceeding from Cold.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A Sovereign Specific for Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Catarrh, Toothache and all kinds of Aches and Pains; and also for Headache, when proceeding from Cold.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1897
maker
Carrollton Chemical Co.
ID Number
2004.0050.11
accession number
2004.0050
catalog number
2004.0050.11

Kickapoo Indian Sagwa: Blood, Liver, Stomach and Kidney Renovator

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Cures Dyspepsia, Sick Headache, Sour Stomach, Loss of Appetite, Heartburn, Depression, Neuraliga, Female Disorders, Liver Complaint, Constipation, Indigestions, Rheumatism, Impure Blood, Jaundice, Bilious Attac
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Cures Dyspepsia, Sick Headache, Sour Stomach, Loss of Appetite, Heartburn, Depression, Neuraliga, Female Disorders, Liver Complaint, Constipation, Indigestions, Rheumatism, Impure Blood, Jaundice, Bilious Attacks, Fever and Ague, and all Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, Kidneys and the Blood.
The Kickappoo Sagwa name was registered in the U.S. Patent Office in July 1882.
Location
Currently not on view (box)
Currently not on view (bottle)
date made
ca 1894
maker
Healy & Bigelow
Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company
ID Number
2005.0100.108
accession number
2005.0100
catalog number
2005.0100.108

Dr. Hoofland's Podofilin Pill

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Substitute for QuinineCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Substitute for Quinine
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1898
maker
Johnston, Holloway, and Company
ID Number
2004.0129.70
accession number
2004.0129
catalog number
2004.0129.70

Sanative Pills

The label on this container reads in part “JAYNE’S / SANATIVE PILLS / CONCENTRATED / SMALL SIZE, SUGAR-COATED & / IMPROVED. . .” There are two green and white 1/8th cent Internal Revenue Stamps, stamped Dr. D. J. & S., 7/1/1898.
Description
The label on this container reads in part “JAYNE’S / SANATIVE PILLS / CONCENTRATED / SMALL SIZE, SUGAR-COATED & / IMPROVED. . .” There are two green and white 1/8th cent Internal Revenue Stamps, stamped Dr. D. J. & S., 7/1/1898. This firm, one of the first patent medicine companies to use an almanac as a marketing tool, printed their first almanac in 1843. David Jayne (1799-1866) began life in modest circumstances, but left an estate worth $3 million.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1898
ID Number
1993.0443.01
catalog number
1993.0443.01
accession number
1993.0443

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