Health & Medicine - Overview
The Museum's collections of medical science artifacts represent nearly all aspects of health and medical practice. Highlights include early X-ray apparatuses, such as one of Wilhelm Roentgen's tubes, penicillin mold from Alexander Fleming’s experiments, and Jonas Salk's original polio vaccine. More recent acquisitions include the first artificial heart implanted in a human, the earliest genetically engineered drugs, and materials related to David, the "Bubble Boy." Other artifacts range from artificial limbs and implant devices to bloodletting and dental instruments, beauty products, and veterinary equipment. The contents of a medieval apothecary shop and an 1890s drugstore form part of the collections, along with patent and alternative medicines. The collections also document the many differing perspectives on health and medical issues, from patients, family members, doctors, nurses, medical students, and out-of-the-mainstream health practitioners.
"Health & Medicine - Overview" showing 158 items.
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Apothecary Bottle
- Description (Brief)
- This 17th-century blown and molded glass bottle has a spiral pattern and a pewter top that is missing its cap. The bottom of the bottle is embossed with two marks, one round and the other in the form of a shield.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.1046
- catalog number
- M-06110
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- collector/donor number
- SAP 822
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.1046
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
AQ TILLAW FL
- Description
- This square-shaped blown and molded apothecary jar has a narrow neck for liquids. The baked enamel label is a white shield surrounded by a blue wreath which is typical of German pharmaceutical containers of the 17th and 18th centuries. The jar is marked "AQ TILLAW FL."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 17th-18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0165
- catalog number
- M-05313
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0165
- collector/donor number
- SAP 22
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
AQ TARAXAC
- Description
- This square shaped glass bottle is marked "AQ TARAXAC." It would have held the root and leaves of the dandelion which were used as a tonic and diuretic.
- There are 347 glass drug containers in the Bristol Myers Squibb Collection. The labels and ornamentation applied to the surface of the glass are of two types, baked enamel and cold painted decoration. The more permanent of the two techniques, baked enamel, uses pigments composed of finely ground glass. The decoration is then fired into the surface of the vessel. Cold paint decoration is far more fragile. The paint is applied to the glass and is protected by a thin wash of varnish. The paint is easily scratched, and over time can begin to flake.
- Most of the BMS collection is decorated with baked enamel baroque shields framed with ribbons and capped with crowns and the flora and fauna of the rococo style. The glass containers in the BMS Collection were produced in the glass houses of the German forests. Windows, drinking vessels, beads and laboratory apparatus are among the products the glass houses turned out. Apothecary containers, utilitarian utensils were "second rate" goods, made by craftsmen, not artisans.
- Many glass houses sold their products directly to the consumer, and specialized styles and labels could be made for a particular apothecary. Gaffers, or glass blowers, created the containers. Enamelers, many of whom were itinerant workers, traveled throughout Europe from one glass house to another, painting the labels and decoration onto the glass. The provenance of a glass jar or a particular glass house can be difficult to determine. Although individual glass houses, gaffers and enamelers are difficult to identify, it is sometimes possible to recognize an apothecary by its crest or by a particular decorative motif incorporated into the design. Glass drug containers were standard in 17th and 18th century German apothecaries, but are rare today because of their inherent fragility.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0171
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05319
- 1991.0664.0171
- collector/donor number
- SAP 28
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ESS. SCORD
- Description
- This blown and molded square shaped clear glass bottle has a flared lip. The baked enamel cartouche label consists of a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon, capped by a crown. The bottle is marked "ESS. SCORD" in black.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0177
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05325
- 1991.0664.0177
- collector/donor number
- SAP 34
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ESS. SUCC
- Description
- This blown and molded square glass bottle has a flared lip and a circular stopper has a baked enamel cartouche decorates the clear glass container with a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon, and capped by a crown. "Marked, "ESS. SUCC" in black text, this bottled would have contained the essence of succinum, or essence of amber. The essence was used as a cathartic, diuretic, and antihysteric.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0178
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05326
- b
- collector/donor number
- SAP 35
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0178.01
- 1991.0664.0178.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
TR. RHEI. APU
- Description
- This blown and molded square glass bottle has a flared lip and a baked enamel cartouche with a white shield which is framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon and capped by a crown. It is marked "TR. RHE. APU."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0179
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05327
- 1991.0664.0179
- collector/donor number
- SAP 36
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ESS. CASCARILL. C
- Description
- This blown and molded square glass bottle has a flared lip. A baked enamel cartouche decorated with a white shield framed, blue stylized leaves, a yellow ribbon and capped by a crown. The bottle is marked "ESS. CASCARILL. C."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0180
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05328
- 1991.0664.0180
- collector/donor number
- SAP 37
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ELIX. UTERIN. CR
- Description
- This blown and molded square glass bottle has had its neck broken off. A baked enamel cartouche decorates the clear glass with a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon, and capped by a crown. The bottle is marked, "ELIX. UTERIN. CR" in black text. The bottle would have contained an elixir of uterinum, a compound of sabin, castor and myrrh that was used to stimulate menses.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0181
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05329
- 1991.0664.0181
- collector/donor number
- SAP 38
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ESS. MYRRH
- Description
- This blown and molded square glass bottle has a narrow neck with a flared collar. The baked enamel cartouche decorates the clear glass with a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon, capped by a crown. It is marked "ESS. MYRRH" which was used as a spice, specifically as an aromatic in church rituals. For medicinal purposes Myrrh was thought to help with conception.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0182
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05330
- 1991.0664.0182
- collector/donor number
- SAP 39
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
TR GUAIC VOLi
- Description
- This blown and molded square-shaped glass drug jar has rounded shoulders and a narrow neck with a flared lip. The enamel label is a white shield outlined in yellow and blue. The yellow crown has yellow flowers surrounded by white dots. George Urdang, noted historian of pharmacy and cataloguer of the BMS Collection attributes this bottle to the Court Pharmacy of Phillnitz.in what is today an eastern neighborhood of Drresden, Germany. The bottle is marked "TR GUAJAC VOL" in black with the first letter of each word in red. this bottle would have contained a tincture of guiac, a tincture made from the resin or wood of the lignum vitae tree. Guiac was used as a diuretic, cathartic, and diaphoretic, and was supposed to be effective in treating syphilis.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0184
- catalog number
- M-05332
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- 1991.0664.0184
- collector/donor number
- SAP 41
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center