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
Five double-edged razor blades in a cardboard box with inscriptions that read “REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / MOLLÉ RAZOR BLADES / FOR QUICK EASY SHAVING / CHROME SURGICAL STEEL” and “THE MOLLÉ CO. BEDFORD, OHIO.
Description
Five double-edged razor blades in a cardboard box with inscriptions that read “REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / MOLLÉ RAZOR BLADES / FOR QUICK EASY SHAVING / CHROME SURGICAL STEEL” and “THE MOLLÉ CO. BEDFORD, OHIO. U.S.A.” The firm obtained a trademark on the term MOLLÉ in 1938.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Molle Company
ID Number
1984.0782.321
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.321
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Merkel's
ID Number
1986.0873.19
accession number
1986.0873
catalog number
1986.0873.19
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s
maker
Pompeian Company
ID Number
2008.0018.278
catalog number
2008.0018.278
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Procter and Gamble
ID Number
1984.0718.098
accession number
1984.0718
catalog number
1984.0718.098
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Andrew Jergens Company
ID Number
1985.0481.315
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.315
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Andrew Jergens Company
ID Number
1985.0481.314
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.314
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.293320.1002
catalog number
293320.1002
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0798.252
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.252
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
brand launched (Ben Hur)
1904
maker
Andrew Jergens Company
ID Number
1988.3089.171
catalog number
1988.3089.171
nonaccession number
1988.3089
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Procter and Gamble
ID Number
1984.0718.073
catalog number
1984.0718.073
accession number
1984.0718
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Andrew Jergens Company
ID Number
1985.0481.246
catalog number
1985.0481.246
accession number
1985.0481
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
John H. Woodbury, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0481.391
accession number
1985.0481
catalog number
1985.0481.391
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
E.W. Rose Co.
ID Number
MG.M-10446.02
catalog number
M-10446
accession number
251551
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1949
maker
Procter and Gamble
ID Number
1984.0718.112
catalog number
1984.0718.112
accession number
1984.0718
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1937
maker
Procter and Gamble
ID Number
1984.0718.111
catalog number
1984.0718.111
accession number
1984.0718
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
CTS Laboratories
ID Number
1980.0746.07
accession number
1980.0746
catalog number
1980.0746.07
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
distributor
Procter & Gamble Company
maker
Procter & Gamble Company
ID Number
1998.0102.24
catalog number
1998.0102.24
accession number
1998.0102
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1977
product expiration date (Influenza virus vaccine)
1977-08-01
maker
Richardson-Merrell, Inc
ID Number
2012.0165.825
catalog number
2012.0165.825
accession number
2012.0165
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Procter and Gamble
ID Number
1984.0718.085
catalog number
1984.0718.085
accession number
1984.0718
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0798.249
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.249
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Merkel's
ID Number
1986.0873.25
accession number
1986.0873
catalog number
1986.0873.25
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.0798.253
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.253
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1959-1960
maker
Procter & Gamble Company
ID Number
2012.3094.01
catalog number
2012.3094.01
nonaccession number
2012.3094

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.