Health & Medicine

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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
Johnson and Johnson
ID Number
1981.0219.181
catalog number
1981.0219.181
accession number
1981.0219
Safety razor in a cardboard box with a “DURHAM DUPLEX” inscription. The Durham Safety Razor Co. was established in New York City, probably in 1908. By 1910 it was trading as the Durham Duplex Razor Co., and had a factory in Jersey City, N.J.Currently not on view
Description
Safety razor in a cardboard box with a “DURHAM DUPLEX” inscription. The Durham Safety Razor Co. was established in New York City, probably in 1908. By 1910 it was trading as the Durham Duplex Razor Co., and had a factory in Jersey City, N.J.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Durham Duplex Razor Company
ID Number
1984.0782.317
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.317
Glass and metal hypodermic syringe with an “IDEAL / CITY OF NEW YORK” inscription on the side, and a “487” serial number.
Description
Glass and metal hypodermic syringe with an “IDEAL / CITY OF NEW YORK” inscription on the side, and a “487” serial number. The “EAST RUTHERFORD SYRINGES” inscription on the box refers a New Jersey firm that built a factory in the early 1930s, and that acquired a new facility in 1955, primarily for distributing syringes for the new Salk polio vaccine.
Location
Currently not on view
user
City of New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
ID Number
2017.0184.058
accession number
2017.0184
catalog number
2017.0184.058
Cardboard box with inscriptions that read “Sensodyne / TOOTHPASTE FOR SENSITIVE TEETH / Recommended by Dentists for Sensitive Teeth / Sensitive teeth relief / in a mint flavor” and “FROM / BLOCK DRUG COMPANY, INC.
Description
Cardboard box with inscriptions that read “Sensodyne / TOOTHPASTE FOR SENSITIVE TEETH / Recommended by Dentists for Sensitive Teeth / Sensitive teeth relief / in a mint flavor” and “FROM / BLOCK DRUG COMPANY, INC. / JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302.” The Block Drug Company was established in Brooklyn in 1907 and relocated to Jersey City in 1938. It applied for a trademark on the term Sensodyne in 1960.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Block Drug Company
ID Number
1993.0107.026
catalog number
1993.0107.026
accession number
1993.0107
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1999
maker
Russ Berrie and Company, Inc.
ID Number
2017.0192.01
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.01
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Shulton, Inc.
ID Number
1993.0024.43
catalog number
1993.0024.43
accession number
1993.0024
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1941-1945
maker
Johnson and Johnson
ID Number
1997.0282.02
accession number
1997.0282
catalog number
1997.0282.02
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:for the relief of simple itching of the skin due to non-poisonous Insect Bites and Chafing. Also for the relief of itching of the scalp and for the removal of the scales of dandruff. ..
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
for the relief of simple itching of the skin due to non-poisonous Insect Bites and Chafing. Also for the relief of itching of the scalp and for the removal of the scales of dandruff. .. will temporarily relive the itching caused by external piles.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1929
maker
Larned Corp.
ID Number
1985.0475.540
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.540
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1988
expiration date
1989-01-11
maker
Sclavo Inc.
ID Number
1988.0736.12
accession number
1988.0736
catalog number
1988.0736.12
Dental floss in cardboard box with inscriptions that read “ONE / 200 YDS. / Johnson’s / DENTAL / FLOSS / REFILL / FOR PLASTIC AND / STEEL DISPENSERS / Johnson & Johnson” and “HELPING THE HANDS / THAT HEAL / TRADEMARK.”Currently not on view
Description
Dental floss in cardboard box with inscriptions that read “ONE / 200 YDS. / Johnson’s / DENTAL / FLOSS / REFILL / FOR PLASTIC AND / STEEL DISPENSERS / Johnson & Johnson” and “HELPING THE HANDS / THAT HEAL / TRADEMARK.”
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Johnson and Johnson
ID Number
1993.0107.198
catalog number
1993.0107.198
accession number
1993.0107
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Hazel Bishop
ID Number
1993.0384.001
catalog number
1993.0384.001
accession number
1993.0384
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
expiration date
1975-02
maker
Connaught Laboratories Limited
Ormont Drug and Chemical Company
ID Number
1982.0043.033B
accession number
1982.0043
catalog number
1982.0043.033B
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
expiration date
1975-05
maker
Connaught Laboratories Limited
Ormont Drug and Chemical Company
ID Number
1982.0043.034D
accession number
1982.0043
catalog number
1982.0043.034D
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Johnson and Johnson
ID Number
1985.0475.266
catalog number
1985.0475.266
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Block Drug Company
ID Number
MG.312608.415
catalog number
312608.415
accession number
312608
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1965
maker
Shulton Inc. Tecnique Division
ID Number
1993.0024.50
accession number
1993.0024
catalog number
1993.0024.50
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1999
maker
Bio-Medical Products Corporation
ID Number
1999.0171.3
catalog number
1999.0171.3
accession number
1999.0171
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1965
maker
Becton, Dickinson and Company
ID Number
1985.0475.812
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.812
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
expiration date
1975-05
maker
Connaught Laboratories Limited
Ormont Drug and Chemical Company
ID Number
1982.0043.034A
accession number
1982.0043
catalog number
1982.0043.034A
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Shulton Technique Division
ID Number
1985.0460.128
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.128
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
expiration date
1975-05
maker
Connaught Laboratories Limited
Ormont Drug and Chemical Company
ID Number
1982.0043.034B
accession number
1982.0043
catalog number
1982.0043.034B
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Mennen Company
ID Number
2012.0165.790
catalog number
2012.0165.790
accession number
2012.0165
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Block Drug Company
ID Number
1993.0107.027
catalog number
1993.0107.027
accession number
1993.0107
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Vita Ray
ID Number
1985.0481.388
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.388

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