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

Tee-Lax

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.1617
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1617

Duo-Aqua-Drin

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0475.417
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.417
accession number
1985.0475

Unguentine Plus, 1 Oz Avoir

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.082
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.082

St. Joseph Cold Tablets for Children

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Plough
ID Number
1985.0475.543
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.543

Foley Family Pills for Constipation

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.072
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.072

Bradford's Blood Purifying Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Unequaled for restoring to healthful condition the Liver and Digestive Organs by removing all Waste matter from the System, producing a clear and healthy complexion.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Unequaled for restoring to healthful condition the Liver and Digestive Organs by removing all Waste matter from the System, producing a clear and healthy complexion.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908 - 1918
1908-1918
maker
Bradford Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.0018.009
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.009

Hollister Rocky Mountain Tea

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Myers Laboratories
ID Number
2008.0018.188
catalog number
2008.0018.188
accession number
2008.0018

Goody's Headache Powders

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for the relief of pain due to simple headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and pains and headaches accompanying head cold.Directions: Place powder on tongue and follow with water or stir in small g
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: for the relief of pain due to simple headache, simple neuralgia, muscular aches and pains and headaches accompanying head cold.
Directions: Place powder on tongue and follow with water or stir in small glass of water and swallow.
Dosage: One powder. May be repeated in 3 or 4 hours. Do not take more than three powders in any 24 hour period. Children under 12, only as directed by physician.
Caution: Do not take more than dosage recommended or take regularly for more than ten days without consulting your physician. When used in large amounts and for a long period of time it may be injurious to kidneys. Keep this and all medicine out of reach of children.
Location
Currently not on view
trademark registration date (Goody's "They Are Good")
1936-10-13
maker
Goody's
ID Number
2008.0018.059
catalog number
2008.0018.059
accession number
2008.0018

Ex-Lax The Chocolated Laxative, Free Sample

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Ex-Lax Manufacturing Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1296
catalog number
293320.1296
accession number
293320

Seltzer Pepsin Peppermint Flavor Chewing Gum

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1906-1908
maker
Baltimore Chewing Gum Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1393
catalog number
293320.1392
accession number
293320

Health Mart Aspirin, 100 Tablets, 5 Grains Each

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
product expiration date
1990-03
maker
Health Mart
ID Number
1988.0687.02
accession number
1988.0687
catalog number
1988.0687.02

Bon-Opto

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Healing, soothing, cooling, non-irritating and cleansing for the eyesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Healing, soothing, cooling, non-irritating and cleansing for the eyes
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
Valma's Drug Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1185
catalog number
293320.1185
accession number
293320

Nature's Remedy NR Tablets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1945
maker
Lewis-Howe Company
ID Number
2008.0018.081
catalog number
2008.0018.081
accession number
2008.0018

Sociables

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Scott-Seaton Labs.
ID Number
1985.0475.555
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.555

Fo-Ti-Tieng Capsules (Hydrocotyle Asiatica Minor)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Kiehl's Inc.
ID Number
1981.0589.033
accession number
1981.0589
catalog number
1981.0589.033

Tar and White Pine Syrup, 3 Fl Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.077
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.077

Chamberlain's Cough Remedy

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1918
maker
Chamberlain Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup98]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193

Tabloid Ferad and Arsenic

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Used to treat aneamic conditions.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Used to treat aneamic conditions.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1936
maker
Burroughs Wellcome Company
ID Number
2002.3059.26
catalog number
2002.3059.26
nonaccession number
2002.3059

Ridall, 2 1/8 Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.064
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.064

Faintex Smelling Salts

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
T. W. Crow and Sons
ID Number
1985.0475.427
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.427

Eugenol

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2012.0165.784
catalog number
2012.0165.784
accession number
2012.0165

Laymon's 6's Asperline

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: pain relieverCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: pain reliever
Location
Currently not on view
maker
World's Products Company
ID Number
2008.0018.071
catalog number
2008.0018.071
accession number
2008.0018

St. Joseph Eye Water

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Plough
ID Number
1985.0475.544
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.544

Swamp Chill and Fever Tonic

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Tonic for Chills and feversCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Tonic for Chills and fevers
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.120
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.120

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