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: New York

Nebs, Analgesic Tablets, 5 Gr, 12 Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1969-1982
maker
Morton - Norwich Products
ID Number
1986.0198.032
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.032

Cacaps

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.0184.047
accession number
2017.0184
catalog number
2017.0184.047

Coryban D Cold Capsules

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1998.0252.063
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.063

Papayroma, 100 Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1934
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.054
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.054

Norwich Head & Chest Cold Medicine, 4 Fl. Oz.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1981-1984
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.041
catalog number
1984.0718.041
accession number
1984.0718

Squibb Mint Flavored Cod Liver Oil

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1936
ID Number
1998.0159.02
accession number
1998.0159
catalog number
1998.0159.02

Paracin

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Antiseptic. Germicidal. For masculine hygieneCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Antiseptic. Germicidal. For masculine hygiene
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
ID Number
1984.0351.116
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.116

Triactin

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Neutralizes excess acid, Calms nervous stomach, Relieves digestive upset.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Neutralizes excess acid, Calms nervous stomach, Relieves digestive upset.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1967-1978
ID Number
1985.0475.584
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.584

Narkogen Hypnotic Anodyne and Antispasmodic

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A valuable hypnotic, anodyne and antispasmodic preparation, offered the medical profession in the line of definite therapy. The rationale of formula is self-evident.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A valuable hypnotic, anodyne and antispasmodic preparation, offered the medical profession in the line of definite therapy. The rationale of formula is self-evident. Its value in the relief of pain -- the manifold conditions of unrest, insomnia, etc., may be quickly demonstrated.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908 - 1918
maker
Tilden Company
ID Number
MG.M-07219
catalog number
M-07219
accession number
220009

Iodex Suppositories

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Menley and James, Ltd.
ID Number
1985.0481.161
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.161
accession number
1985.0481

Unguentine Plus Ointment, 1 Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1973
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.099
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.099

Dr. Pettit's American Eye Water

No information about indications or use are provided on the packaging.The Howard Brothers of Buffalo, New York produced this bottle of Dr. Pettit’s American Eye Water around 1900. In 1842 Dr.
Description
No information about indications or use are provided on the packaging.
The Howard Brothers of Buffalo, New York produced this bottle of Dr. Pettit’s American Eye Water around 1900. In 1842 Dr. James Pettit formulated the eye salve in Fredonia, New York, selling the business to Edward and Clarence Howard in 1876. The Howard Brothers moved the company to Buffalo, New York in 1888. Dr. Pettit’s American Eye Water was used to sooth irritated eyes.
date made
ca 1900
maker
Howard Brothers
ID Number
2008.0062.23
accession number
2008.0062
catalog number
2008.0062.23

Herb Capsules No. 85 - Durfa Compound

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Mild diuretic tends to increase the flow of urineCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Mild diuretic tends to increase the flow of urine
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Kiehl Pharmacy Inc.
ID Number
1981.0589.034
accession number
1981.0589
catalog number
1981.0589.034

Perfect Seidlitz Powders Garfield & Co.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Garfield and Company
ID Number
1979.1144.241
catalog number
1979.1144.241
accession number
1979.1144

Perfect Seidlitz Powders Garfield & Co.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Garfield and Company
ID Number
1979.1144.242
catalog number
1979.1144.242
accession number
1979.1144

St. Joseph Genuine Pure Aspirin, 36 5-Grain Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Plough, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0516.001
catalog number
1985.0516.001
accession number
1985.0516

Dr Humphreys Maravilha Curativa

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Humphreys Medicine Company
ID Number
1980.0769.01
accession number
1980.0769
catalog number
1980.0769.01

DeWitt's Catarrhal Cream

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Is prepared especially with the most, scrupulous care for one of the most offensive and distressing complaints- Nasal Cattarh, the constant dropping of virus which poisons the system, attacks the Bronch
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Is prepared especially with the most, scrupulous care for one of the most offensive and distressing complaints- Nasal Cattarh, the constant dropping of virus which poisons the system, attacks the Bronchial Tubes and frequently destroys the bones of the nose, injures the hearing and destroys the sense of smell
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.041
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.041

New Pepto-Bismol, 60 Chewable Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1964
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.061
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.061

Doan's Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A mild diuretic to the kidneys.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A mild diuretic to the kidneys.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1938
maker
Foster-Milburn Company
ID Number
2008.0018.026
catalog number
2008.0018.026
accession number
2008.0018

Acetaminophen Capsules, 500 Mg. 100 Capsules

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1998.0252.045
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.045

Norwich Head & Chest Cold Medicine, 12 Capsules

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1981-1984
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.042
catalog number
1984.0718.042
accession number
1984.0718

Moffat's Vegetable Life Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1981.0170.035
accession number
1981.0170
catalog number
1981.0170.035

Dristan Nasal Mist

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Whitehall Laboratories, Inc.
ID Number
1998.0252.037
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.037

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