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.

Safety razor in a cardboard box with labels that read “Christy / TRADE MARK / SAFETY RAZOR / with the / MASSAGE BAR / KEEPS YOUR FACE YOUNG.” This was manufactured by the Christy Co. in Fremont, Ohio. Russ J. Christy established the Christy Knife Co. in 1891, and the R. J.
Description
Safety razor in a cardboard box with labels that read “Christy / TRADE MARK / SAFETY RAZOR / with the / MASSAGE BAR / KEEPS YOUR FACE YOUNG.” This was manufactured by the Christy Co. in Fremont, Ohio. Russ J. Christy established the Christy Knife Co. in 1891, and the R. J. Christy Co. around 1907. The massage bar on this razor was described in Christy’s patent of 1924.
Ref: Russ J. Christy, “Safety Razor,” U.S. Patent 798,129 (Aug. 29, 1905).
Russ J. Christy, “Safety Razor,” U.S. Patent 788,820 (May 2, 1905).
Russ J. Christy, “Safety Razor,” U.S. Patent 853,960 (May 21, 1907).
Russ J. Christy, “Skin Smoothing and Stretching Device for Safety Razors,” U.S. Patent 1,502,615 (July 22, 1924).
Russ J. Christy, “Safety Razor,” U.S. Patent 1,777,602 (Oct. 7, 1930).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1923-1940
maker
Christy Company
ID Number
2005.0100.093
accession number
2005.0100
catalog number
2005.0100.093
Steel safety razor with a “BURNHAM” inscription. An inscription on the accompanying paper package reads “TESTED / BURNHAM / SAFETY RAZOR CO. / NEW YORK CITY / U.S.A. / Reg. Trade Mark / Blades 3.” The firm was in business by 1922.Currently not on view
Description
Steel safety razor with a “BURNHAM” inscription. An inscription on the accompanying paper package reads “TESTED / BURNHAM / SAFETY RAZOR CO. / NEW YORK CITY / U.S.A. / Reg. Trade Mark / Blades 3.” The firm was in business by 1922.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burham Safety Razor Company
ID Number
1984.0782.315
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.315
Safety razor designed for use with double-edged blades. There is a “Gillette” inscription in the lid of the case, and a paper packet marked “GILETTE / BLADE.” The small container marked “DULL” was presumably meant to hold blades past their prime.Currently not on view
Description
Safety razor designed for use with double-edged blades. There is a “Gillette” inscription in the lid of the case, and a paper packet marked “GILETTE / BLADE.” The small container marked “DULL” was presumably meant to hold blades past their prime.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Gillette Company
ID Number
1984.0557.01
accession number
1984.0557
catalog number
1984.0557.01
Steel safety razor in a metal box with inscriptions that read “ANTICOR / THE / MAGIC / SAFETY / CORN / SHAVER” and “NEW BLADES / SOLD EVERYWHERE / 3 FOR 25¢ / CHANGE BLADES EVERY / THREE MONTHS FOR / BEST RESULTS” and “MONEY BACK / GUARANTEE TO GIVE ABSOLUTE / AND PERFECT SATISFA
Description
Steel safety razor in a metal box with inscriptions that read “ANTICOR / THE / MAGIC / SAFETY / CORN / SHAVER” and “NEW BLADES / SOLD EVERYWHERE / 3 FOR 25¢ / CHANGE BLADES EVERY / THREE MONTHS FOR / BEST RESULTS” and “MONEY BACK / GUARANTEE TO GIVE ABSOLUTE / AND PERFECT SATISFACTION / TO EVERY CUSTOMER / ANTICOR MFG. COMPANY / NEW YORK CITY.”
Ref: Hugo Buchner, “Corn-Cutter,” U.S. Patent 983,202 (Jan. 11, 1911), assigned to the Anticor Mfg. Co.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0798.218
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.218
Safety razor in a cardboard box with an inscription that reads in part “THE MILLION DOLLAR RAZOR” and “AutoStrop Safety Razor Co., Inc.”Henry J. Gaisman (1870-1974), inventor and philanthropist, established the Auto Strop Safety Razor Co.
Description
Safety razor in a cardboard box with an inscription that reads in part “THE MILLION DOLLAR RAZOR” and “AutoStrop Safety Razor Co., Inc.”
Henry J. Gaisman (1870-1974), inventor and philanthropist, established the Auto Strop Safety Razor Co. in 1906 and sold it to the Gillette Safety Razor Co. in 1930. The firm introduced “THE MILLION DOLLAR RAZOR” in 1928, boasting that it was “the result of 21 years of research and the expenditure of a million dollars in experiments.”
Ref: “H. J. Gaisman, 104, Inventor, Is Dead,” New York Times (Aug. 7, 1974), p. 38.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Auto Strop Safety Razor Company
ID Number
1984.0782.318
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.318
Steel safety razor.Currently not on view
Description
Steel safety razor.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1978.0883.279
accession number
1978.0883
catalog number
1978.0883.279
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
Steel safety razor with a “GEM” inscription. An inscription on the cardboard box reads “We guarantee the perfection / and shave satisfaction of this / Gem Safety Razor and its / marvelous Gem Double-Life / Blade.
Description
Steel safety razor with a “GEM” inscription. An inscription on the cardboard box reads “We guarantee the perfection / and shave satisfaction of this / Gem Safety Razor and its / marvelous Gem Double-Life / Blade. Gem blades are sold / everywhere and always run / 100% perfect to the package.”
Ref: Ad for Gem Double Life Blades in Popular Mechanics (Feb. 1926): 162.
Location
Currently not on view (cardboard box; paper inserts)
date made
ca 1923
maker
Gem Safety Razor Corporation
ID Number
1985.0481.230
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.230
The Gem Safety Razor Co. introduced the Gem Micromatic Clog Proof Razor in the 1930s.Ref: Marcus B. Behrman, “Razor and Blade Therefor,” U.S. Patent 1,739,280 (Dec. 10, 1929), assigned to American Safety Razor Co.Currently not on view
Description
The Gem Safety Razor Co. introduced the Gem Micromatic Clog Proof Razor in the 1930s.
Ref: Marcus B. Behrman, “Razor and Blade Therefor,” U.S. Patent 1,739,280 (Dec. 10, 1929), assigned to American Safety Razor Co.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1982.0030.06
accession number
1982.0030
catalog number
1982.0030.06
Gilette Safety Razor.Currently not on view
Description
Gilette Safety Razor.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Gillette Company
ID Number
2012.0046.12
catalog number
2012.0046.12
accession number
2012.0046
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Schick Laboratories
Sterling Drug Inc. Centaur-Caldwell Division
ID Number
2012.0165.410
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.410
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Gillette Company
ID Number
2012.0165.392
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.392
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
American Safety Razor Corporation
ID Number
1985.0475.793
catalog number
1985.0475.793
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2012.0165.402
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.402
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Gillette Company
ID Number
2008.0018.263
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.263
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2012.0165.401
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.401
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2012.0165.400
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.400
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Gillette Company
ID Number
2012.0165.407
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.407
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2012.0165.395
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.395
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
National Safety Razor Company
ID Number
1985.0475.808
catalog number
1985.0475.808
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Durham Duplex Razor Company
ID Number
1985.0481.239
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.239
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Durham Duplex Razor Company
ID Number
2012.0165.404
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.404
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Schick Laboratories
ID Number
2012.0165.399
accession number
2012.0165
catalog number
2012.0165.399
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1988.3089.151
nonaccession number
1988.3089
catalog number
1988.3089.151

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