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

Pepto-Bismol, 4 Fl Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1961
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.057
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.057

Vicks Double-Buffered Cold Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Vick Chemical Company, Division of Richardson Merrell
ID Number
1998.0267.38
catalog number
1998.0267.38
accession number
1998.0267

Bell-Ans

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0235.154
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.154

Pil: Ferri, Quiniae et Strychniae Phosp: 1st Form

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
W. H. Schieffelin and Company
ID Number
2005.0100.010
catalog number
2005.0100.010
accession number
2005.0100

Glycerin Suppositories, 12

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1971
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.019
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.019

No-To-Bac

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Guaranteed remedy for the tobacco habit in every form. Helps make weak men strong.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Guaranteed remedy for the tobacco habit in every form. Helps make weak men strong. Six to ten tablets daily, taken persistently, will not only dispose of the tobacco-habit, but improve digestion and make the thin man gain weight and vital strength. NO-TO-BAC will make the blood pure and full of life, and has been used with good effect by men advanced in years. NO-TO-BAC is perfectly harmless and can be used as a tonic for sexual weakness by man or woman.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1906-1914
date made
1906-1908
maker
Sterling Remedy Company
American Can Company
ID Number
2001.0073.2
catalog number
2001.0073.2
accession number
2001.0073

Vaporole Amyl Nitrite, For Inhalation Only, Poison

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burroughs Wellcome Company
ID Number
1985.0516.094
catalog number
1985.0516.094
accession number
1985.0516

Paracin

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For masculine hygiene. Antiseptic. GermicdalCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For masculine hygiene. Antiseptic. Germicdal
Location
Currently not on view
collection
Reid Drugstore
ID Number
1984.0351.114
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.114

Pepto-Bismol, Chewable Tablets, 24 Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.048
catalog number
1984.0718.048
accession number
1984.0718

Orangeine Powders

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the relief of simple headache, simple neuralgia and the discomforts arising from head colds and minor pains.Dose: 1 powder, repeat in half hour if not relieved.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the relief of simple headache, simple neuralgia and the discomforts arising from head colds and minor pains.
Dose: 1 powder, repeat in half hour if not relieved.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1927-1930s
maker
Orangeine Chemical Company, Inc.
ID Number
1979.1144.043
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.043

Norwich Aspirin, 325mg, 250 Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals
ID Number
1984.0718.038
catalog number
1984.0718.038
accession number
1984.0718

Fellows Laxative Tablets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1925
maker
Fellows Medical Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2008.0018.053
catalog number
2008.0018.053
accession number
2008.0018

Unguentine

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
MG.M-13872
catalog number
M-13872
accession number
292537

Bayer Aspirin

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Glenbrook Laboratories, Division of Sterling Drug Inc.
ID Number
1985.0475.100
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.100

Larkin Dema-Bond

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2008.3006.157
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.157

Mothersill's Travel Remedy

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2002.0138.030
accession number
2002.0138
catalog number
2002.0138.030

Pepsin and Soda Mint Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
W. H. Schieffelin and Company
Schieffelin and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1341
catalog number
293320.1341
accession number
293320

Directals, Suppositories, Box 12

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1950
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.016
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.016

St. Joseph Genuine Pure Aspirin, One Dozen 5-Grain Tablets

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Plough, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0475.107
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.107

Ripans Tabules, Chocolate Coated

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
product launched; product trademarked (Ripans Tabules)
1891-1892
maker
Ripans Chemical Company
ID Number
1981.0219.082
accession number
1981.0219
catalog number
1981.0219.082

Neo-Hist, The Anti-Histamine Tablet

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Manhattan Drug Co.
ID Number
1985.0481.088
catalog number
1985.0481.088
accession number
1985.0481

Humphey's Marvel of Healing

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Humphreys' Homeopathic Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.3006.166
nonaccession number
2008.3006
catalog number
2008.3006.166

Ocusol Eyedrops, 1 Fl Oz

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.052
accession number
1986.0198
catalog number
1986.0198.052

Spencer's Fumigating Diphtheritic Pastilles - A Fumar Antiseptic for the Prophylactic and Specific Treatment of Diphtheria

The indications or uses of this product as provided on the packaging are:The inclosed pastilles are so compounded as to be absolutely harmless to the human economy, while their fumes effectually destroy all contagious, putrefactive and disease-bearing germs.No matter what the exp
Description
The indications or uses of this product as provided on the packaging are:
The inclosed pastilles are so compounded as to be absolutely harmless to the human economy, while their fumes effectually destroy all contagious, putrefactive and disease-bearing germs.
No matter what the exposure may be, these burning pastilles will positively prevent the spreading and communicating of diphtheria, small-pox, scarlet fever and allied epidemic diseases.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Spencer, Thomas D.
ID Number
MG.M-11460.03
catalog number
M-11460.03
accession number
260557

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