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 135 items.
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Ovral 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1982. The 21 pills are encased in a plastic and aluminum blister pack with punch-outs on the reverse. The blister pack is surrounded by a white plastic holder with the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The blister pack has a rectangular white plastic carrying pouch that is decorated with two blue flowers and a yellow-green butterfly. The Ovral pill regimen came with a separate white paper insert with instructions for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1982
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 1980.0160.12
- accession number
- 1980.0160
- catalog number
- 1980.0160.12
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovral 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1982. The 21 pills are encased in a plastic and aluminum blister pack with punch-outs on the reverse. The blister pack is surrounded by a white plastic holder with the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The blister pack has a rectangular white plastic carrying pouch that is decorated with two blue flowers and a yellow-green butterfly. The Ovral pill regimen came with a separate white paper insert with instructions for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1982
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 1980.0160.13
- accession number
- 1980.0160
- catalog number
- 1980.0160.13
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Brevicon 21-Day 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.
- Syntex Incorporated produced this Brevicon brand oral contraceptive in Humacao, Puerto Rico, around 1972. The Brevicon 21-Day tablet is in a trademarked Memorette tablet dispenser. The dispenser is in a blue plastic compact case embossed with a profile bust of a woman. This pill pack was distributed by the manufacturer as a “Professional Sample” and includes an informational booklet for the first-time user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1972
- maker
- Syntex F.P. Inc.
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.009.A
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.009A
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Brevicon 21-Day 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.
- Syntex Incorporated produced this Brevicon brand oral contraceptive in Humacao, Puerto Rico, around 1972. The Brevicon 21-Day tablet is in a trademarked Memorette tablet dispenser. The dispenser is in a blue plastic compact case embossed with a profile bust of a woman. This pill pack was distributed by the manufacturer as a “Professional Sample” and includes an informational booklet for the first-time user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1974
- maker
- Syntex F.P. Inc.
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.009.B
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.009.B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Demulen 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.
- Searle & Company produced this Demulen brand oral contraceptive in San Juan, Puerot Rico, around 1975. Searle was the first company to manufacture birth control pills. The Demulen pills came in a yellow plastic compact case. Inside the compact is a 21-pill blister pack that organizes the monthly pill regimen into weekly rows, labeled by day of the week. The starter kit includes a prescription blank and a paper insert with directions for use for the patient, as well as a promotional booklet for “the Pill.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1975
- maker
- Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.012.A
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.012.A
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Demulen 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.
- Searle & Company produced this Demulen brand oral contraceptive in San Juan, Puerot Rico, around 1975. The Demulen pills came in a yellow plastic compact case. Inside the compact is a 21-pill blister pack that organizes the monthly pill regimen into weekly rows, labeled by day of the week. The starter kit includes a prescription blank and a paper insert with directions for use for the patient, as well as a promotional booklet for “the Pill.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1975
- maker
- Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.012.B
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.012B
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Low-Dose Demulen 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.
- Searle & Company produced this Low-Dose Demulen brand oral contraceptive in San Juan, Puerto Rico, around 1976. Searle was the first company to manufacture birth control pills. These Low-Dose Demulen pills came in a yellow plastic compact case. Inside the compact is a 21-pill blister pack that organizes the monthly pill regimen into weekly rows, labeled by day of the week.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1976
- maker
- Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.013
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.013
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lo/Ovral 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Lo/Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1980. The 21 pills are in a blister pack that is inserted into a pink plastic holder. The holder has the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The pills come with a pink carrying sleeve decorated with flowers and a butterfly. The pill pack includes a small booklet with instructions for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1980
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.027
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.027
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Loestrin 21 1.5/30 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.
- Parke-Davis and Company of Detroit, Michigan, produced this Loestrin 21 1.5/30 brand oral contraceptive around 1976. This Loestrin 21-pill starter pack consists of a folder with a large photograph of a mammalian ovulation on the cover with the question, “How much estrogen does it really take to control nature?” The inside of the folder has a quote from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists saying that less than 50 micrograms of estrogen can be used when combined with a stronger progestin. The other interior side of the folder promotes this lower 30-microgram dose of estrogen, available in 21-and 28-day regimens. A light green Petipac pill dispenser attached to the front of the folder that a profile image of a girl embossed on the lid. The Petipac contains a blister pack with three rows of seven green pills.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1976
- maker
- Parke, Davis and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.030
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.030
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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
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