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

Health Mart Natural Vegetable Laxative, 14 oz. net wt.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
product expiration date
1989-10
maker
Health Mart
ID Number
1988.0687.09
catalog number
1988.0687.09
accession number
1988.0687

B.Q.R. for Cold Discomforts

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For cold discomfortsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For cold discomforts
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940s
maker
Beeman's, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0475.600
catalog number
1985.0475.600
accession number
1985.0475

Klok-Lax

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0481.080
catalog number
1985.0481.080
accession number
1985.0481

Unguentine Squeeze Spray, 2 3/4 Fl Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1968
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.107
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.107

Blackburn's Sulpherb Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1932
maker
Blackburn Products Company
ID Number
AG.P73.2759.14
catalog number
P73.2759.14

Brown's Instant Relief for Pain

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Pain ReliefCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Pain Relief
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.141
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.141

Renne's Oils

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dr. Herrick's Family Medicine Company
James F. Ballard, Inc.
ID Number
2008.0018.240
catalog number
2008.0018.240
accession number
2008.0018

Seidlitz Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Purepac Co.
ID Number
1985.0475.547
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.547

Patterson's Wax

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Allays toothache not due to ulcerationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Allays toothache not due to ulceration
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Drug Store Brands
ID Number
2002.3059.12
catalog number
2002.3059.12
nonaccession number
2002.3059

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 [dup77]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193

Lapactic Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
MG.314016.045
catalog number
314016.045
accession number
314016

The Ru-Ex Compound

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A preparation intended to be helpful in allaying muscular aches and painsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A preparation intended to be helpful in allaying muscular aches and pains
Location
Currently not on view
date made
prior to 1940
maker
Ru-Ex Company
ID Number
1988.3089.079
catalog number
1988.3089.079
nonaccession number
1988.3089

Tylenol, Extra-Strength Capsules, 500 mg.

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the temporary relief of minor aches, pains, headaches and feverCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the temporary relief of minor aches, pains, headaches and fever
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1982
maker
McNeil Laboratories
ID Number
2012.0165.002
catalog number
2012.0165.002
accession number
2012.0165

Realeef Aspirin

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1982.0492.03
accession number
1982.0492
catalog number
1982.0492.03

Biact Cold Tablets

Fast relief of nasal congestion, fever of colds and "flu"Currently not on view
Description
Fast relief of nasal congestion, fever of colds and "flu"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1970
trademark registered (BiAct)
1969-06-03
maker
Sauter Laboratories
ID Number
1981.0219.070
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.070

Santonin with Cascara Sagrada Syrup

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Winthrop-Stearns, Inc.
ID Number
1981.0219.091
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.091

Mentos Medicine

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0481.341
catalog number
1985.0481.341
accession number
1985.0481

Unguentine with Dianestol, 65 Gr

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1959
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.085
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.085

Prof. Field's Round Worm (Large) Powders

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An aid in expelling and destroying large round worms.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An aid in expelling and destroying large round worms.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Byron Field & Co.
ID Number
2008.0018.087
catalog number
2008.0018.087
accession number
2008.0018

Squibb Epsom Salt

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.1441
catalog number
293320.1441
accession number
293320

Retafen Ointment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Vanpelt & Brown, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0475.527
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.527

Gude's Pepto-Mangan

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: In nutritional anemia resulting from deficiency of iron, PEPTO-MANGAN tablets supply iron in readily absorbable form, to help increase the hemoglobin content of the red blood capsules...Currently not on
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: In nutritional anemia resulting from deficiency of iron, PEPTO-MANGAN tablets supply iron in readily absorbable form, to help increase the hemoglobin content of the red blood capsules...
Location
Currently not on view
maker
M. J. Breitenbach Co.
ID Number
MG.313462.092
catalog number
313462.92
accession number
313462

Chamberlain's Cough Remedy

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1906
1908-1918
maker
Chamberlain Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup53]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193

Double O Medicine, D48301

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Associated Name
Sherman Pharmacy
maker
Red Star Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0460.033
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.033

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