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

Green's August Flower

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1898
maker
G. G. Green, Inc.
ID Number
MG.M-10241.05
catalog number
M-10241.05
accession number
241520

Pepto-Bismol, 4 Fl. Oz.

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For indigestion; nausea; diarrheaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For indigestion; nausea; diarrhea
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca. 1988
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.025
catalog number
1984.0718.025
accession number
1984.0718

Aspirin Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1935
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
McKesson and Robbins
ID Number
1984.0351.196B
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.196B

Mexican Mustang Liniment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Lyon Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2008.3006.160
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.160

Twenty Grand Aspirin

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1982.0492.04
accession number
1982.0492
catalog number
1982.0492.04

Dr Thomas' Eclectic Oil

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
ZZ.RSN83048756

Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
W. H. Comstock Company
ID Number
2008.0018.200
catalog number
2008.0018.200
accession number
2008.0018

Groblewski's Headache Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s-1930s
ID Number
1979.1144.067
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.067

St. Jakobs Oel

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.177
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.177

Mayr's Wonderful Remedy

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Dissolve in glass of hot water and drink upon getting up following morning; then drink two more glasses of water within two hour.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Dissolve in glass of hot water and drink upon getting up following morning; then drink two more glasses of water within two hour.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1910
maker
George H. Mayr's Manufacturing Chemist
ID Number
1984.0782.306
catalog number
1984.0782.306
accession number
1984.0782

Vicks Vaporub

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Vick Chemical Company, Division of Richardson Merrell
ID Number
1998.0267.12
accession number
1998.0267
catalog number
1998.0267.12

Benzedrine Solution

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Smith, Kline & French Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0475.639
catalog number
1985.475.639
accession number
1985.0475

Prof H Samuels Treatment

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Location
Currently not on view
Maker
Sargon Products, Inc.
maker
Samuel Sales Company
ID Number
MG.274347.225
catalog number
274347.225
accession number
274347

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 pains, periodic pains, simple nervousnessCurrently 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, periodic pains, simple nervousness
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Pepsin Syrup Company
ID Number
1978.0883.231.D
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.231D

Dewitt's Little Early Risers

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Most Pleasant Cathartic PillCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Most Pleasant Cathartic Pill
Location
Currently not on view
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
2009.0097.03
accession number
2009.0097
catalog number
2009.0097.03

Compound Syrup of Buckthorn and Sarsaparilla

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Blood purifier. For pimples, blotches, &c. Being vegetable, it can be taken safely at any season. It has no equal as a general tonic and appetizer.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Blood purifier. For pimples, blotches, &c. Being vegetable, it can be taken safely at any season. It has no equal as a general tonic and appetizer.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
ID Number
1979.0798.130
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.130

Brandreth's Pills

[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]Currently not on view
Description
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1868
Associated Name
Brandreth Pill Works
maker
Brandreth Pill Works
ID Number
MG.293320.1161
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1161

Doane's Seidlitz Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.1144.120
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.120

Unguentine Ointment, 7.5 Oz,

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1966
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.084
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.084

Desitin Ointment

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pfizer Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0475.408
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.408
accession number
1985.0475

Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, catharticCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, cathartic
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pierce's Proprietaries, Inc.
ID Number
2008.0018.043
catalog number
2008.0018.043
accession number
2008.0018

Dulcet Aspirin (Sugar-Tablets Abbott)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Abbott Laboratories
ID Number
1985.0475.105
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.105

Hold, Children's 4 Hour Cough Suppressant, 10 Lozenges

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1998.0252.030
accession number
1998.0252
catalog number
1998.0252.030

Artificial Kissingen Salt, N.F.V., Granular Effervescent, 4 Ounces

One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sh
Description
One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sharp & Dohme provided 23 specimens of potassium preparations and 18 specimens of an iron preparations.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1927
maker
Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
MG.M-02323
catalog number
M-02323
accession number
99602

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