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.

Garfield's Perfect Seidlitz Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Garfield and Company
ID Number
1979.1144.132
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.132

Mayr's Wonderful Remedy

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Dissolve in glass of water and drink at 3 p.m. Follow with two glasses of water within half-hour.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Dissolve in glass of water and drink at 3 p.m. Follow with two glasses of water within half-hour.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1910
maker
George H. Mayr's Manufacturing Chemist
ID Number
1984.0782.177
catalog number
1984.0782.177
accession number
1984.0782

Squibb Magnesia Wafers

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
ID Number
1985.0481.111
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.111
accession number
1985.0481

Chlor-Trimeton Decongestant Tablets, 12 Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Schering Corp.
ID Number
1998.0252.027
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.027

Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1881
maker
W. H. Comstock Company
ID Number
2009.0097.10
accession number
2009.0097
catalog number
2009.0097.10

Pine Bros. Licorice Cough Drops

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1999.0320.05
accession number
1999.0320
catalog number
1999.0320.05

Tiger Balm

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.M-06892.11
catalog number
M-06892.11
accession number
210760

Dr. Mark R. Woodbury's Dyspepsia Killers or Headache Lozenges

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1981.0170.052
accession number
1981.0170
catalog number
1981.0170.052

Vicks Cough Drops

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Vick Chemical Company, Division of Richardson Merrell
ID Number
1998.0267.14
accession number
1998.0267
catalog number
1998.0267.14

Cala Poison Oak & Ivy Cream

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0481.026
catalog number
1985.0481.026
accession number
1985.0481

Exicol

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2002.0138.033
accession number
2002.0138
catalog number
2002.0138.033

Cot-N-Chips - Oiled for Baby and Ready for Use

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1955-1960
maker
Cot-N-Chips Company
ID Number
1985.0481.036
catalog number
1985.0481.36
accession number
1985.0481
1985.0481

Empire Water

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ZZ.RSN83574U20

Cactus

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.0018.256
catalog number
2008.0018.256
accession number
2008.0018

Lanacane

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.1144.055.A
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.055.A

McKesson's Seidlitz Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.1144.125
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.125

Chlorate Potash Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.1406
catalog number
293320.1406
accession number
293320

Shaker Family Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
A. J. White, Limited
ID Number
MG.M-10238.01
catalog number
M-10238.01
accession number
241520

Rel Head Cold Jelly

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.312608.340
catalog number
312608.340
accession number
312608

Doane's Seidlitz Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.1144.117
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.117

otc preparation

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Proat, Thomas
ID Number
1984.0782.155
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.155

Peptonic Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
John Wyeth & Brother
ID Number
1978.0235.206.2
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.206.2
serial number
1092575

Sine-Aid for Sinus Headache

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Johnson and Johnson
ID Number
1978.0235.191
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.191

Konet

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pfeiffer Company
ID Number
1985.0475.457
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.457
accession number
1985.0475

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.