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 49 items.
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PULV ANTISP RUB
- Description
- This widemouthed blown glass jar has a flattened collar and an applied round foot. The clear glass container is decorated with a baked enamel cartouche bearing a white medallion that is framed by blue stylized leaves and ribbons, and topped by a crown. Marked "PULV ANTISP RUB."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0167
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05315
- 1991.0664.0167
- collector/donor number
- SAP 24
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
PULV EPILEPT M
- Description
- A widemouthed glass jar with a flattened collar and an applied round foot, this clear blown glass container is decorated with a baked enamel cartouche. A white medallion is framed by blue stylized leaves and ribbons, topped by a crown. Marked, "PULV, EPILEPT, M,"
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0168
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05316
- 1991.0664.0168
- collector/donor number
- SAP 25
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
PULV EPILEPT M
- Description
- This widemouthed blown glass jar has a flattened collar and applied round foot. The glass container is decorated with a baked enamel cartouche with a white medallion framed by blue stylized leaves and a yellow ribbon, topped by a crown which is typical of German pharmaceutical containers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Marked, "PULV, EPiLEPT, N,"
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0169
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05317
- 1991.0664.0169
- collector/donor number
- SAP 26
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
AQ TARAXAC
- Description
- This square shaped glass bottle is marked "AQ TARAXAC." It would have held the root and leaves of the dandelion which were used as a tonic and diuretic.
- There are 347 glass drug containers in the Bristol Myers Squibb Collection. The labels and ornamentation applied to the surface of the glass are of two types, baked enamel and cold painted decoration. The more permanent of the two techniques, baked enamel, uses pigments composed of finely ground glass. The decoration is then fired into the surface of the vessel. Cold paint decoration is far more fragile. The paint is applied to the glass and is protected by a thin wash of varnish. The paint is easily scratched, and over time can begin to flake.
- Most of the BMS collection is decorated with baked enamel baroque shields framed with ribbons and capped with crowns and the flora and fauna of the rococo style. The glass containers in the BMS Collection were produced in the glass houses of the German forests. Windows, drinking vessels, beads and laboratory apparatus are among the products the glass houses turned out. Apothecary containers, utilitarian utensils were "second rate" goods, made by craftsmen, not artisans.
- Many glass houses sold their products directly to the consumer, and specialized styles and labels could be made for a particular apothecary. Gaffers, or glass blowers, created the containers. Enamelers, many of whom were itinerant workers, traveled throughout Europe from one glass house to another, painting the labels and decoration onto the glass. The provenance of a glass jar or a particular glass house can be difficult to determine. Although individual glass houses, gaffers and enamelers are difficult to identify, it is sometimes possible to recognize an apothecary by its crest or by a particular decorative motif incorporated into the design. Glass drug containers were standard in 17th and 18th century German apothecaries, but are rare today because of their inherent fragility.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0171
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05319
- 1991.0664.0171
- collector/donor number
- SAP 28
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
SAL. SEDATiV. H
- Description
- This widemouthed blown glass jar has an applied foot and a baked enamel cartouche decorates the clear glass container with a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon, and topped by a crown. It is marked "SAL, SEDATiV, H."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0172
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05320
- 1991.0664.0172
- collector/donor number
- SAP 29
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
SCAMON
- Description
- This widemouthed blown glass jar has a flared lip, applied foot, and baked enamel cartouche. The white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon is capped by a crown. It is marked "SCAMON" above the alchemical symbol PPT. Two lines interrsect the stems and letters.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0173
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05321
- 1991.0664.0173
- collector/donor number
- SAP 30
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
CROC, MARTAP, ST
- Description
- This widemouthed blown glass jar has a flared lip and an applied foot. The baked enamel cartouche decorates the clear glass with a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon and topped by a crown is typical of German pharmaceutical containers of the 17th and 18th century's. It is marked "CROC, MARTAP, ST," Crocus Martisis is a mixture of sulphur and iron.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0174
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05322
- 1991.0664.0174
- collector/donor number
- SAP 31
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
SAL, SEDLIZ
- Description
- This widemouthed blown glass jar has a flared lip and an applied foot. A baked enamel cartouche decorates the clear glass with a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves a yellow ribbon and capped by a crown which is typical of German pharmaceutical containers of the 17th and 18th century's. Marked, "SAL, SEDLIZ". Seidlitz Salt was discovered in the early 17th century. It was used as a diuretic and cathartic.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0175
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05323
- 1991.0664.0175
- collector/donor number
- SAP 32
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
LAP, CANCR
- Description
- This widemouthed blown glass jar has a flared lip, an applied foot, and a baked enamel cartouche. The white shield is framed by blue stylized leaves and a yellow ribbon and capped by a crown. It is marked "LAP, CANCR," above the abbreviation PPT (prepared) which has two lines running horizontally through the stems.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0176
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05324
- 1991.0664.0176
- collector/donor number
- SAP 33
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ESS. SCORD
- Description
- This blown and molded square shaped clear glass bottle has a flared lip. The baked enamel cartouche label consists of a white shield framed by blue stylized leaves and yellow ribbon, capped by a crown. The bottle is marked "ESS. SCORD" in black.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 18th century
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0177
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-05325
- 1991.0664.0177
- collector/donor number
- SAP 34
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center