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.

Philip Drinker (1894-1972) was an industrial hygienist at the Harvard Medical School. Louis Agassiz Shaw, Jr. (1886-1940) was a physiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Description
Philip Drinker (1894-1972) was an industrial hygienist at the Harvard Medical School. Louis Agassiz Shaw, Jr. (1886-1940) was a physiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health. Working together in the late 1920s, the two men devised a respirator for polio patients that, by 1930, was known as an iron lung. Drinker and Shaw received the John Scott Medal for this work in 1931. An inscription on this example reads "DRINKERS RESPIRATORS / PATENTS PENDING / Made By / WARREN E. COLLINS INC. / Specialist in Metabolism Apparatus / 555 HUNTINGTON AVE., BOSTON, MASS. / NO. 3."
Ref: L. A. Shaw and P. Drinker, (1929), "An Apparatus for the Prolonged Administration of Artificial Respiration: I. A Design for Adults and Children," Journal of Clinical Investigation 7 (1929): 229–247.
Philip Drinker and Charles F. McKhann, “The Use of a New Apparatus for the Prolonged Administration of Artificial Respiration: I. A Fatal Case of Poliomyelitis,” (1929).
“Two Harvard Men Devised Respirator,” Boston Globe (Aug. 15, 1931), p. 11.
Joseph Rossman, “Drinker Patents Held Invalid,” Science 82 (1935): 221-222.
“Louis A. Shaw, 54; Respirator Expert,” New York Times (Aug. 28, 1940), p. 19.
“Prof. Philip Drinker Dies at 77; A Co-Inventor of the Iron Lung,” New York Times (Oct. 21, 1972), p. 36.
“Warren E. Collins Funeral Tomorrow, Scientific Appliance Maker Developed Oxygen Tent,” Boston Globe (Nov. 28, 1935), p. 21.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Warren E. Collins, Inc.
ID Number
1989.0398.01.01
catalog number
1989.0398.01
accession number
1989.0398
Safety razor in a cardboard box with inscriptions that read in part “GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR CO. / King Gillette, PRES.” The American Safety Razor Company was established in 1901, and became the Gillette Safety Razor Company in July 1902. King G.
Description
Safety razor in a cardboard box with inscriptions that read in part “GILLETTE SAFETY RAZOR CO. / King Gillette, PRES.” The American Safety Razor Company was established in 1901, and became the Gillette Safety Razor Company in July 1902. King G. Gillette obtained a trademark registration (0056921) for his portrait and signature on the packaging, and production began in 1903.
Ref: King C. Gillette, “Razor,” U.S. Patent 775,134 (Nov. 15, 1904), assigned to Federal Trust Company, of Boston.
King Camp Gillette, “Razor,” U.S. Patent 775,135 (Nov. 15, 1904), assigned to Federal Trust Company, of Boston.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1918
maker
Gillette Safety Razor Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1500
catalog number
293320.1500
accession number
293320
Disposable cup marked “POCKET SPUTUM FLASK ‘XL’ / Patented / BURNITOL MANUFACTURING CO. / BOSTON, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO.” The inscription on the cardboard box reads “ONE / BUGTITE CUP HOLDER / For The Pocket Cup / D. R. Bulla Co.
Description
Disposable cup marked “POCKET SPUTUM FLASK ‘XL’ / Patented / BURNITOL MANUFACTURING CO. / BOSTON, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO.” The inscription on the cardboard box reads “ONE / BUGTITE CUP HOLDER / For The Pocket Cup / D. R. Bulla Co. / Sophia, N.C.” The Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., of Cambridge, Ma., introduced the term “BURNITOL” to commerce and obtained a trademark in 1906.
Ref: Harry J. Potter, “Collapsible Receptacle,” U.S. Patent 888,653 (May 26, 1908), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Harry J. Potter, “Sputum-Cup,” U.S. Patent 920,180 (May 4, 1909), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burnitol Manufacturing Company
ID Number
MG.M-11458.01
catalog number
M-11458.01
accession number
260557
An inscription on the front of this cardboard flask reads “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK.” The Burnitol Manufacturing Co. The Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., of Boston, Ma., introduced “Burnitol” to commerce in 1906 and obtained a copyright on the term.Currently not on view
Description
An inscription on the front of this cardboard flask reads “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK.” The Burnitol Manufacturing Co. The Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., of Boston, Ma., introduced “Burnitol” to commerce in 1906 and obtained a copyright on the term.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burnitol Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1984.0782.323
catalog number
1984.0782.323
accession number
1984.0782
Disposable cardboard cup with “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK” and “BURNITOL MANUFACTURING CO. / BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO / PATENT NUMBER 1,719,378 / MADE IN U.S.A.” inscriptions.
Description
Disposable cardboard cup with “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK” and “BURNITOL MANUFACTURING CO. / BOSTON, SAN FRANCISCO / PATENT NUMBER 1,719,378 / MADE IN U.S.A.” inscriptions. The Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., of Boston, Ma., introduced the term “Burnitol” to commerce in 1906. The California branch of the firm was incorporated in 1939.
Ref: Harry J. Potter, “Collapsible Receptacle,” U.S. Patent 888,653 (May 26, 1908), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Harry J. Potter, “Sputum-Cup,” U.S. Patent 920,180 (May 4, 1909), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burnitol Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1984.0782.325
catalog number
1984.0782.325
accession number
1984.0782
Disposable cardboard cup with a “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK” inscription. The Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., of Boston, Ma., introduced the term “Burnitol” to commerce in 1906.Ref: Harry J. Potter, “Collapsible Receptacle,” U.S.
Description
Disposable cardboard cup with a “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK” inscription. The Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., of Boston, Ma., introduced the term “Burnitol” to commerce in 1906.
Ref: Harry J. Potter, “Collapsible Receptacle,” U.S. Patent 888,653 (May 26, 1908), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Harry J. Potter, “Sputum-Cup,” U.S. Patent 920,180 (May 4, 1909), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burnitol Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1984.0782.324
catalog number
1984.0782.324
accession number
1984.0782
Disposable cardboard cup with “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK” inscription.Currently not on view
Description
Disposable cardboard cup with “BURNITOL / ‘XL’ / POCKET SPUTUM FLASK” inscription.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burnitol Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1984.0782.326
catalog number
1984.0782.326
accession number
1984.0782
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1948
ID Number
2003.0031.06
accession number
2003.0031
catalog number
2003.0031.06
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
United Drug Company
ID Number
MG.293320.0864
catalog number
293320.0864
accession number
293320
Glass jar with paper label that reads in part “FREE SAMPLE BOTTLE OF / RUBIFOAM / ALCOHOL 45 PER CENT / FOR THE TEETH / . . . / Prepared by E. W. HOYT & CO. / PROPRIETORS OF / HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE / LOWELL, MASS.” Eli W.
Description
Glass jar with paper label that reads in part “FREE SAMPLE BOTTLE OF / RUBIFOAM / ALCOHOL 45 PER CENT / FOR THE TEETH / . . . / Prepared by E. W. HOYT & CO. / PROPRIETORS OF / HOYT’S GERMAN COLOGNE / LOWELL, MASS.” Eli W. Hoyt (1838-1887) owned a drugstore in Lowell, Mass., and began manufacturing Hoyt’s German Cologne in 1870. The firm introduced Rubifoam, a liquid dentifrice, to market in 1887.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
E. W. Hoyt & Company
ID Number
MG.293320.0990
catalog number
293320.0990
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1961
maker
Wilbur Fenelon Young Incorporation
ID Number
1979.1144.054
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.054
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
John H. Breck, Inc.
ID Number
1998.0251.05
accession number
1998.0251
catalog number
1998.0251.05
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Gillette Company
ID Number
1985.0475.608
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.608
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0481.347
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.347
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
Patent model for Amos Whittemore, “Improvement in Vaccinators,” U.S. Patent 52,921 (Feb. 20, 1866). An inscription reads "CODMAN & SHURTLEF / BOSTON." Whittemore was a machinist in Cambridge, Mass.Currently not on view
Description
Patent model for Amos Whittemore, “Improvement in Vaccinators,” U.S. Patent 52,921 (Feb. 20, 1866). An inscription reads "CODMAN & SHURTLEF / BOSTON." Whittemore was a machinist in Cambridge, Mass.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1866
patent date
1866-02-27
ID Number
MG.M-04304
catalog number
M-04304
accession number
89797
patent number
52,921
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
maker
E. W. Hoyt & Company
ID Number
MG.293320.0877
catalog number
293320.0877
accession number
293320
date made
ca 1943
maker
Langlois Inc.
ID Number
1985.0481.325
catalog number
1985.0481.325
accession number
1985.0481
maker number
P243
Blood glucose monitor with box, carrying case, quick reference guide, lancets, box of test strips, check strip bag, "We'll Get You Started!" card, guarantee and limited warranty cards in English and Spanish, membership application (American Diabetes Association), and user's manua
Description
Blood glucose monitor with box, carrying case, quick reference guide, lancets, box of test strips, check strip bag, "We'll Get You Started!" card, guarantee and limited warranty cards in English and Spanish, membership application (American Diabetes Association), and user's manual.
Blood glucose monitor is beige and gray plastic with LCD display panel and one blue button on the front. Box is white and purple with black, yellow, white and pink print with picture of blood glucose monitor on the front and side and pictorial instructions on the back of the box. Carrying case is black leatherette with clear, plastic sleeves, metal snaps, quick reference guide, lancets, and "We'll Get You Started" card. Quick Reference guide is white and purple with black font and pictoral instructions. Lancets are beige plastic and are included in the carrying case. Box of test strips is white and purple with black, pink, and yellow print with pictures of blood glucose monitor and test strips and pictorial instructions on the back. Check test strip bag is clear plastic and contains white and gray pamphlet with gray print and picture of check strip on the front. Bag also contains blue and green metal and plastic check strip. Guarantee and Limited Warranty cards are folded white cardstock with black print. One is in English and the other is in Spanish. User's Manual is white paper with purple and black print and includes pictorial instructions and English and Spanish text.
Printed on front of box: New! No calibration or coding required / Easy to Use / Accurate / Results in 30 seconds
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1996
maker
MediSense Inc.
ID Number
2014.0140.22
accession number
2014.0140
catalog number
2014.0140.22
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.0915
catalog number
293320.0915
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1988.3089.310
catalog number
1988.3089.310
nonaccession number
1988.3089
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1948
ID Number
2003.0031.04
accession number
2003.0031
catalog number
2003.0031.04
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1899-11-23
maker
Dr. J. C. Ayer and Company
ID Number
1992.3127.01
catalog number
1992.3127.01
nonaccession number
1992.3127

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