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 7 items.
C-Quens 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.
- Eli Lilly and Company of Indianapolis, Indiana produced this C-Quens brand oral contraceptive around 1965. The paper package is folded matchbook-style with directions and blister pack inside. The pills are laid out to represent a calendar, with 15 white 80 mcg Mestranol tablets, and 5 peach colored tablets that are 80 mcg Mestranol with 2 mg of chlormadinone acetate.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1965
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.011
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.011
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Humulin N, NPH
- Description (Brief)
- Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. Developed by Genentech, the first American biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli Lilly and became the first marketable product created through recombinant DNA technology. Its licensing by the FDA in October 1982 also made it the first recombinant pharmaceutical approved for use in the United States.
- Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human insulin are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce insulin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Humulin.
- Humulin N is formulated to have a slower onset of action than regular insulin and a longer duration of activity (slightly less than 24 hours).
- Object consists of a white cardboard box with black and red printing. Box contains two product inserts and one clear round glass bottle with an orange plastic cap and a white label. Bottle contains a pinkish substance suspended in a clear solution.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- 1987.0790.01
- accession number
- 1987.0790
- catalog number
- 1987.0790.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Humulin BR, Buffered Regular
- Description (Brief)
- Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. Developed by Genentech, the first American biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli Lilly and became the first marketable product created through recombinant DNA technology. Its licensing by the FDA in October 1982 also made it the first recombinant pharmaceutical approved for use in the United States.
- Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human insulin are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce insulin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Humulin.
- Humulin BR is similar to regular insulin in activity and action, but it was formulated to be used specifically and only in the external insulin pump.
- Object consists of a white cardboard box with black and red printing. Box contains two product inserts and one round clear glass bottle with an orange plastic cap and a white label. Bottle contains a yellowish, clear solution.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- 1987.0790.02
- accession number
- 1987.0790
- catalog number
- 1987.0790.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Humulin R, Regular
- Description (Brief)
- Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. Developed by Genentech, the first American biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli Lilly and became the first marketable product created through recombinant DNA technology. Its licensing by the FDA in October 1982 also made it the first recombinant pharmaceutical approved for use in the United States.
- Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human insulin are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce insulin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Humulin.
- Humulin R is considered to be "regular" insulin and has had nothing added to change the speed or length of its action. It takes effect rapidly and has a relatively short duration of activity (6 to 8 hours) as compared with other insulin formulations.
- Object consists of a white cardboard box with black and red printing. Box contains two product inserts and one round clear glass bottle with an orange plastic cap and a white label. Bottle contains a yellowish, clear solution.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- 1987.0790.03
- accession number
- 1987.0790
- catalog number
- 1987.0790.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Humulin L, LENTE
- Description (Brief)
- Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. Developed by Genentech, the first American biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli Lilly and became the first marketable product created through recombinant DNA technology. Its licensing by the FDA in October 1982 also made it the first recombinant pharmaceutical approved for use in the United States.
- Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human insulin are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce insulin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Humulin.
- Humulin L is an intermediate-acting insulin with a slower onset of action than regular insulin and a longer duration of activity (up to 24 hours). Due to declining use of longer-acting insulins, Humulin L was discontinued in 2005.
- Object consists of a white cardboard box with black and red printing. Box contains two product inserts and a round, clear glass bottle with an orange plastic cap and white label. Bottle contains a white substance suspended in a clear solution.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1987
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- 1987.0790.04
- accession number
- 1987.0790
- catalog number
- 1987.0790.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lilly's Granular Effervescent Vichy
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
- An antacid in heartburn, sour stomach, uric acid diathesis; aids digestion; used for obesity in connection with Kissingen salts
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1906-1918
- 1906-1908
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- MG*M-12151.02
- accession number
- 271464
- catalog number
- M-12151.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Succus Alterans (Alterative Juice)
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
- Alterative
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1908-1918
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- 1989.0711.53
- accession number
- 1989.0711
- catalog number
- 1989.0711.53
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center