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 71 items.
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Micronor DialPak 35 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Micronor brand oral contraceptive around 1973. The 35 green pills are contained in Ortho’s trademarked DialPak dispenser. The DialPak, introduced in 1963, was the first oral contraceptive package to incorporate a “memory aid,” which Ortho advertised as “the package that remembers for her.” The center wheel of the DialPak reveals the day of the week and aligns with a pill on the outer ring. When the user turned the dial to dispense the next pill, the wheel in the center would advance a day, allowing the user to see if she had taken her pill.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- after 1971
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.032
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.032
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ModiCon Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this ModiCon brand oral contraceptive around 1977. The foil package contains a 21-pill Dialpak dispenser. Ortho trademarked the term DialPak in 1965, and was the first company to release their medication in a memory-aid device, now ubiquitous among makers of oral contraceptives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1977-1980
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.034.A
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.034A
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ModiCon Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this ModiCon brand oral contraceptive around 1977. The foil package contains a 21-pill Dialpak dispenser. Ortho trademarked the term DialPak in 1965, and was the first company to release their medication in a memory-aid device, now ubiquitous among makers of oral contraceptives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1976-1977
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.034.B
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.034.B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum 1/80 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Ortho-Novum 1/80 brand oral contraceptive in 1974. The 28-pill regimen came in Ortho’s patented DialPak dispenser. The dispenser displays the day of the week, which changes as the patient rotates the rim to dispense the next day’s pill. To maintain the routine of taking a daily pill, many manufacturers began including a fourth week of pills that were inert. This Ortho-Novum regimen contains 28 pills, including 7 tablets that were inert.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1974
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.043
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.043
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum SQ Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Ortho-Novum SQ brand oral contraceptive around 1965. Ortho was the first company to dispense its contraceptives in “compliance packaging.” Packaging such as this DialPak helped patients comply with their doctor’s order to take their pill daily, and advertised itself as “the package that remembers for her.” When the user turned the dial to dispense their next pill, the wheel in the center would display the day of the week, allowing the her to see if she had taken her pill that day. This regimen contained 14 white and 6 blue pills that had to be taken in order to be effective. The back of the DialPak contains instructions on how to use the DialPak.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1970
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.044
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.044
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Admiracion Foamy Shampoo
- Description
- Admiracion Laboratories, a division of Pharmaco, of Kenilworth, N.J., made this "soapless" shampoo as early as 1933 and well into the 1950s. Advertised as using no chemicals or drying alkalis, Admiracion Shampoo was made from oils and claimed to make "problem" hair lovely again. Admiracion products included a Foamy Oil Shampoo and a Shampoo Oil Treatment. This bottle probably dates between 1947 and 1954. It was endorsed by Good Housekeeping magazine and sports their "Seal of Approval."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1947-1954
- maker
- Admiracion Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1982.0031.02
- accession number
- 1982.0031
- catalog number
- 1982.0031.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum SQ Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey produced this Ortho-Novum SQ brand oral contraceptive around 1965. The DialPak, introduced by Ortho in 1963, was the first contraceptive packaging to incorporate a “memory aid.” When the user turned the dial to dispense the next pill, the blue wheel in the center would advance to display the next day of the week. The pack includes three cycles of 20 pills.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1965
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.029
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.029
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Micronor Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Micronor brand oral contraceptive around 1971. The 35 pills are in a DialPak dispenser. When the user turns the dial to dispense the next pill, the wheel in the center displays the next day of the week. The pills are dispensed sideways to accommodate the 35 pills in the cycle.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1971
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.030
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.030
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum Dialpak
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- This is an Ortho-Novum Dialpak dispenser that was manufactured by the Ortho Pharmaceutical Company of Raritan, New Jersey, during the 1960s. The 20-pill Dialpak has a central “calendar disc” listing the days of the week, with each day aligning with the pill slot that containing that day’s pill. This Dialpak originally dispensed a 10-milligram pill, but is now empty. The back of the Dialpak contains instructions on how to use the device.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1963
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.036
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.036
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Quingestanol Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Company of Morris Plains, New Jersey, produced this oral contraceptive around 1972. The dispenser contains 35 pills of .3-milligrams of Quingestanol Acetate, a progestogen. The front of the dispenser is unlabeled. A slit displays the day of the week and a tab can be lifted to extract the daily pill. The back bears directions and information for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1972
- maker
- Warner-Lambert Pharmaceutical Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.038
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center