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 1977
product introduced
1977
maker
Yves Saint Laurent
ID Number
2013.0077.07
catalog number
2013.0077.07
accession number
2013.0077
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
expiration date
1975-04-30
maker
Parke, Davis and Company
ID Number
1982.0043.007A
catalog number
1982.0043.007A
accession number
1982.0043
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1975
maker
Nina Ricci
ID Number
2009.3030.26
nonaccession number
2009.3030
catalog number
2009.3030.26
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
date made
ca 1979
maker
L&M Hair Care Products
ID Number
1985.0475.251
catalog number
1985.0475.251
accession number
1985.0475
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:For pain, asthma, nervous cough, incont. urine, night sweats. Also used as an antidote to morphine or opium.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:
For pain, asthma, nervous cough, incont. urine, night sweats. Also used as an antidote to morphine or opium. [Merck's Index, Fouth Edition, 1930]
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1886
1918-1975
Date made
after 1918
date made
after 1918
maker
Sandoz Chemical Works
ID Number
MG.314016.054
catalog number
314016.054
accession number
314016
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1976
expiration date
1976-12-15
maker
American Cyanamid Company. Lederle Laboratories Division
ID Number
1980.0076.011
accession number
1980.0076
catalog number
1980.0076.011
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1972
expiration date
1972-12-01
maker
Pfizer Ltd.
ID Number
2007.0171.06.2
catalog number
2007.0171.06.2
accession number
2007.0171
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1977
expiration date
1980-01-17
ID Number
2017.0193.07
catalog number
2017.0193.07
accession number
2017.0193
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
date made
ca 1965-1970
product line launched (Ambush)
1955
maker
Dana Perfume Corporation
ID Number
2009.3030.21
nonaccession number
2009.3030
catalog number
2009.3030.21
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
date made
1958-1970
product launched
1958
maker
Colgate-Palmolive Company
ID Number
1985.0475.264
catalog number
1985.0475.264
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1972
expiration date
1972-10-01
maker
Pfizer Ltd.
ID Number
2007.0171.01
catalog number
2007.0171.01
accession number
2007.0171
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1970s
maker
Guerlain
ID Number
1985.0516.084
accession number
1985.0516
catalog number
1985.0516.084
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1979
expiration date
1979-11-20
maker
Merck Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
2017.0291.04
catalog number
2017.0291.04
accession number
2017.0291
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966 - 1977
maker
World Health Organization
ID Number
1985.3109.019
nonaccession number
1985.3109
catalog number
1985.3109.019
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966 - 1977
maker
World Health Organization
ID Number
1985.3109.023
nonaccession number
1985.3109
catalog number
1985.3109.023
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1966 - 1977
ID Number
1985.3109.015
nonaccession number
1985.3109
catalog number
1985.3109.015
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1977
maker
Guerlain
ID Number
2009.3030.38
nonaccession number
2009.3030
catalog number
2009.3030.38
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1977
product expiration date (Influenza virus vaccine)
1977-08-01
maker
Richardson-Merrell, Inc
ID Number
2012.0165.825
catalog number
2012.0165.825
accession number
2012.0165
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1973-1974
expiration date
1974-08-20
maker
Pfizer Ltd.
ID Number
2007.0171.05
catalog number
2007.0171.05
accession number
2007.0171
The modern running shoe took shape in the 1960s and 1970s, when running enthusiasts at shoe companies started experimenting with improved designs. In 1972, Bill Bowerman applied for a patent on “an athletic shoe suitable for use on artificial turf . . .
Description
The modern running shoe took shape in the 1960s and 1970s, when running enthusiasts at shoe companies started experimenting with improved designs. In 1972, Bill Bowerman applied for a patent on “an athletic shoe suitable for use on artificial turf . . . the sole has short multi-sided polygon shaped studs. . . which provide gripping edges that give greatly improved traction.” The sole’s design was inspired by his wife’s waffle iron which Bill subsequently ruined while using it to form his experimental rubber soles. Bowerman received his shoe patent number 3,793,750 on February 26, 1974 and Nike began producing the “waffle” trainers the same year.
This example is a Nike LDV (Long Distance Vector ) shoe in blue suede and nylon mesh fabric upper with the orange Nike "Swoosh" on left and right sides of the shoe. The shoe is covered by two of Bowerman's US patents: 3,793,750 (1974) and 4,098,011 (1978). The patent numbers appear on the bottom of the sole. In the later patent the original "waffle" shoe was modified to address some weaknesses in the earlier design including undue wear of the sole and lateral instability.
date made
ca 1979
maker
Nike, Inc.
ID Number
2014.3088.01
catalog number
2014.3088.01
nonaccession number
2014.3088
patent number
4098011
3793750

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