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.

Display rack holding twenty cardboard packages with inscriptions that read “FOR A SWEET SHAVE USE / GOLD’N / HONEY BLADE / SINGLE EDGE / LATEST EXCLUSIVE / SCIENTIFIC PROCESS” and “MADE IN U.S.A.” The Honey Blade Co. was located in St.
Description
Display rack holding twenty cardboard packages with inscriptions that read “FOR A SWEET SHAVE USE / GOLD’N / HONEY BLADE / SINGLE EDGE / LATEST EXCLUSIVE / SCIENTIFIC PROCESS” and “MADE IN U.S.A.” The Honey Blade Co. was located in St. Louis and New York City.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Honey Blade Co.
ID Number
1983.0871.93
accession number
1983.0871
catalog number
1983.0871.93
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Lashbrow Laboratories Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.0941
catalog number
293320.0941
accession number
293320
Gold colored tin with dark green and medium green printing. Tin is flask-shaped and has a twist-open shaker top. Stylized mosquitoes are depicted on the sides of the tin. Directions specify: "To keep Mosquitoes away, apply freely to all exposed parts of the body.
Description
Gold colored tin with dark green and medium green printing. Tin is flask-shaped and has a twist-open shaker top. Stylized mosquitoes are depicted on the sides of the tin. Directions specify: "To keep Mosquitoes away, apply freely to all exposed parts of the body. Repeat when necessary or as the odor of the Anti Skeeter Talc lessens. REVISION 1926 / NET CONTENTS 3 1/4 oz."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1926 - 1930
maker
Pfeiffer Chemical Company
ID Number
2019.0244.01
catalog number
2019.0244.01
accession number
2019.0244
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rexall Drug Company
ID Number
1993.0384.018
catalog number
1993.0384.018
accession number
1993.0384
The label on this metal container reads “ALBODON FOR THE TEETH” and “WILLIAM WARNER & CO., INC. NEW YORK, ST. LOUIS” with instructions for use. There was an Albodon Co., in New York, that was making a dental cream by 1916, and that dissolved in 1928. William R. Warner & Co.
Description
The label on this metal container reads “ALBODON FOR THE TEETH” and “WILLIAM WARNER & CO., INC. NEW YORK, ST. LOUIS” with instructions for use. There was an Albodon Co., in New York, that was making a dental cream by 1916, and that dissolved in 1928. William R. Warner & Co. was making Albodon by 1936.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Warner, William Richard
ID Number
1979.1144.061
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.061
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2001
maker
Medicine Shoppe International
ID Number
2001.0113.5
catalog number
2001.0113.5
accession number
2001.0113
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1954
expiration date
1954-03-05
maker
American Cyanamid Company. Lederle Laboratories Division
ID Number
1985.0475.843
catalog number
1985.0475.843
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Benjamin Ansehl Company
ID Number
1985.0475.201
catalog number
1985.0475.201
accession number
1985.0475
Posilac is a recombinant pharmaceutical used to increase milk production in lactating dairy cows. Approved by the FDA in 1993, Posilac was the first biotechnology product offered for sale by Monsanto.
Description (Brief)
Posilac is a recombinant pharmaceutical used to increase milk production in lactating dairy cows. Approved by the FDA in 1993, Posilac was the first biotechnology product offered for sale by Monsanto. The company sold the rights to Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company in 2008.
Its active ingredient, bovine growth hormone-also known as rBGH and rBST-has been at the center of ongoing controversy in the United States. Although deemed safe by the FDA, rBGH is banned in many other countries. American consumer groups have countered FDA claims of safety with concerns about possible health risks stemming from differences in milk produced by cows treated with rBGH and milk produced by untreated cows.
Recombinant pharmaceuticals like Posilac 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 bovine somatotropin (growth hormone) are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce the somatotropin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Posilac.
Object consists of a white cardboard box with light blue, dark blue, and red printing. Box contains 25 needles, 25 syringes, and a product insert. Needles are disposable, wrapped individually, and have a purple plastic base and a clear plastic cap. Syringes are 500-mg single doses, and they are made of white plastic with white labels with red, blue, and black printing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
April 1993 to June 1994
product expiration date
1994-06
maker
Monsanto Company
ID Number
2012.0046.50
accession number
2012.0046
catalog number
2012.0046.50
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
National Package Drugs
ID Number
1985.0475.780
catalog number
1985.0475.780
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s
maker
Lashbrow Laboratories Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.0944
catalog number
293320.0944
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rexall Drug Company
ID Number
1993.0384.029
catalog number
1993.0384.029
accession number
1993.0384
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
A. S. Aloe and Company
ID Number
MG.302606.159
accession number
302606
catalog number
302606.159
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Rexall Drug Company
ID Number
1983.0084.29
accession number
1983.0084
catalog number
1983.0084.29
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1972
expiration date
1972-04-29
maker
Parke, Davis and Company
Philips Roxane Inc.
ID Number
1982.0043.005B
catalog number
1982.0043.005B
accession number
1982.0043
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Lashbrow Laboratories Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.0943
catalog number
293320.0943
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
National Package Drugs
ID Number
1985.0475.781
catalog number
1985.0475.781
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
distributor
Naturalist Nutritional Products
ID Number
1983.0084.28
accession number
1983.0084
catalog number
1983.0084.28
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer or by reference literature from the period are:Cortical epilepsy, excessive sexual desire, stychnine poisoning and tetanus, convulsion in children due to intestinal and stomachic derangement., chorea, deliri
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer or by reference literature from the period are:
Cortical epilepsy, excessive sexual desire, stychnine poisoning and tetanus, convulsion in children due to intestinal and stomachic derangement., chorea, delirium tremons, climacteric period in women, migraine, female pelvic diseases of reflex nature; as headache ovarian neuralgia, and increased sensibility of all parts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1935-1950s
maker
Od Peacock Sultan Company
ID Number
1984.0782.146
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.146
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For athlete's foot and other superficial fungous infections of the skin; antifungal; antibacterialCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For athlete's foot and other superficial fungous infections of the skin; antifungal; antibacterial
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pfeiffer Company
ID Number
1985.0475.052
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.052
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1924
trademark registration date (Stacomb)
1923-07-03
maker
Standard Laboratories
ID Number
1984.0782.364
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.364
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:My own prescription for horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs. A tonic and appetizer. A condition powder and animal regulator, in many cases, among livestock.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
My own prescription for horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs. A tonic and appetizer. A condition powder and animal regulator, in many cases, among livestock. Good for many cases of common coughs, colds, distemper, kidney troubles, loss of appetite, hide bound and loss of flesh.
LeGear, a doctor in veterinary medicine, sold a variety of stock and poultry medicines and remedies after graduating from Ontario Veterinary College in 1892. He also published Dr. Le Gear’s Stock Book that outlined the general care of stock and advertised his remedies for any animal maladies. This stock powder was manufactured by the Dr. L. D. LeGear Medicine Company of St. Louis Missouri around 1925. The powder was sold as a tonic and appetizer remedying coughs, colds, and loss of appetite for horses, cows, pigs, sheep and goats.
date made
ca 1925
maker
Dr. L. D. LeGear Medicine Company
ID Number
1985.0481.417
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.417
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Pfeiffer Chemical Company
ID Number
1984.0782.362
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.362
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1972
expiration date
1972-04-29
maker
Parke, Davis and Company
Philips Roxane Inc.
ID Number
1982.0043.005A
catalog number
1982.0043.005A
accession number
1982.0043

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