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

Toketa Witch Hazel and Carbolic Salve

Red yellow and black ointment tin. "The best remedy for piles / An antiseptic healing dressing / for general family use, for all burns, / cuts, old sores and skin diseases. / Price 25 cents.
Description
Red yellow and black ointment tin. "The best remedy for piles / An antiseptic healing dressing / for general family use, for all burns, / cuts, old sores and skin diseases. / Price 25 cents. / Holman / Chicago"
"Guaranteed pure and harmless / The best remedy for all chronic skin disease"
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0798.153
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.153

Dr. Caldwell's Improved Prescription Powders

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Headaches, head colds, neuralgia, muscular aches and painsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Headaches, head colds, neuralgia, muscular aches and pains
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Pepsin Syrup Company
ID Number
1978.0883.231.A
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.231A

Ramon's Co-Tabs

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To help ease the headache, runny nose, and aches and pains of common colds.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To help ease the headache, runny nose, and aches and pains of common colds.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca. 1940
maker
Brown Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2008.0018.090
catalog number
2008.0018.090
accession number
2008.0018

Panodynes

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Keystone Labs., Inc.
ID Number
1985.0475.502
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.502

Penetro Inhaler

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Plough, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0475.504
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.504

Rexall Bisma Rex

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rexall Drug Company
ID Number
1993.0384.019
catalog number
1993.0384.019
accession number
1993.0384

Sugretus

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:To build up the vital organs, the defects of which are the cause of diabetes, burger [Buerger's disease], liver and kidney troubles.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
To build up the vital organs, the defects of which are the cause of diabetes, burger [Buerger's disease], liver and kidney troubles.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
After 1906
date made
ca 1940s
ca 1930s
maker
Dailey's Laboratories
Dailey's Laboratories
ID Number
MG.274347.228
catalog number
274347.228
accession number
274347

Kennedy's Laxative Cough Syrup

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1908
c. 1906 -1908
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup24]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193

Cofron Elixir

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Abbott Laboratories
ID Number
1984.0351.148
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.148

Dermamycin, ointment, 1 oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0475.024
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.024

Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pierce's Proprietaries, Inc.
ID Number
2008.0018.288
catalog number
2008.0018.288
accession number
2008.0018

Genuine Gold Medal Haarlem Oil

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A diuretic to the kidneys. For adults only. 5 drops 3 times a day before meals. Mix into wine, milk, warm water, coffee, or tea. For temporary use only.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A diuretic to the kidneys. For adults only. 5 drops 3 times a day before meals. Mix into wine, milk, warm water, coffee, or tea. For temporary use only. Prolonged use may cause inflammation of kidneys.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Gold Medal Haarlem Oil Co.
ID Number
2015.0158.10
catalog number
2015.0158.10
accession number
2015.0158

Salicylos

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1900
date made
after 1915
maker
H.K. Mulford Company
ID Number
1984.0782.174
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.174

King's Puremalt

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1906
maker
King's Pure Malt Department
ID Number
MG.M-10767.10
catalog number
M-10767.10
accession number
256193
256193

Citrate of Magnesia

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2000.0137.069
accession number
2000.0137
catalog number
2000.0137.069

Porter's Pain King

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To relieve colds, nervous and sick headache, rhuematic and neuralgic pains, toothache, backache, sprains, bruises and burns.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: To relieve colds, nervous and sick headache, rhuematic and neuralgic pains, toothache, backache, sprains, bruises and burns.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
maker
George H. Rundle Company
ID Number
2008.0018.213
catalog number
2008.0018.213
accession number
2008.0018

Novahistine Elixir

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Dow Chemical Company
ID Number
1985.0475.494
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.494

Ocusol Eyedrops, New Bottle, 6 Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1976
maker
Morton - Norwich Products
ID Number
1986.0198.049
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.049

Creo-Terpin

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Henry K. Wampole and Company
ID Number
1985.0475.398
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.398
accession number
1985.0475

Dr. Caldwell Pine Balm

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1935
product launch date
1933
maker
Pepsin Syrup Company
ID Number
MG.274347.278
catalog number
274347.278
M-12141
accession number
274347

Comtrex Night Time, Liquid, 6 Fl. Oz.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bristol-Myers Co.
ID Number
1998.0252.033
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.033

Chloraseptic Sore Throat Spray, Cherry, 1.5 Oz.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Procter and Gamble
ID Number
1984.0718.008
catalog number
1984.0718.008
accession number
1984.0718

Norwich Aspirin, 325mg, 500 Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.039
catalog number
1984.0718.039
accession number
1984.0718

Iron-Ox Laxative Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Iron-OX Remedy Company
ID Number
1985.0481.077
catalog number
1985.0481.077
accession number
1985.0481

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