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 135 items.
Page 2 of 14
ModiCon Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this ModiCon brand oral contraceptive around 1977. The foil package contains a 21-pill Dialpak dispenser. Ortho trademarked the term DialPak in 1965, and was the first company to release their medication in a memory-aid device, now ubiquitous among makers of oral contraceptives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1977-1980
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.034.A
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.034A
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
ModiCon Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this ModiCon brand oral contraceptive around 1977. The foil package contains a 21-pill Dialpak dispenser. Ortho trademarked the term DialPak in 1965, and was the first company to release their medication in a memory-aid device, now ubiquitous among makers of oral contraceptives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1976-1977
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.034.B
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.034.B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Norinyl 1/80 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Syntex Corporation of Humacoa, Puerto Rico, manufactured this Norinyl 1/80 brand oral contraceptive around 1978. The medication was packaged in a cardboard sleeve decorated with images of flowers and a bird. The medicine was dispensed in Syntex’s trademarked Memorette container that features a female bust in profile embossed on the lid. Inside the container is a 21-pill blister pack that organizes the monthly regimen into three rows of 7 pills that are numbered 1–21.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1978
- maker
- Syntex Inc.
- Syntex
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.039
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.039
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovral Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1982. The 21 pills are in a blister pack that is inserted into a white plastic holder. The holder has the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The pills come with a carrying sleeve decorated with flowers and a butterfly. The pill pack includes a paper insert with instructions for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1981
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.042
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.042
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum 1/80 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Ortho-Novum 1/80 brand oral contraceptive in 1974. The 28-pill regimen came in Ortho’s patented DialPak dispenser. The dispenser displays the day of the week, which changes as the patient rotates the rim to dispense the next day’s pill. To maintain the routine of taking a daily pill, many manufacturers began including a fourth week of pills that were inert. This Ortho-Novum regimen contains 28 pills, including 7 tablets that were inert.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1974
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.043
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.043
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum SQ Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Ortho-Novum SQ brand oral contraceptive around 1965. Ortho was the first company to dispense its contraceptives in “compliance packaging.” Packaging such as this DialPak helped patients comply with their doctor’s order to take their pill daily, and advertised itself as “the package that remembers for her.” When the user turned the dial to dispense their next pill, the wheel in the center would display the day of the week, allowing the her to see if she had taken her pill that day. This regimen contained 14 white and 6 blue pills that had to be taken in order to be effective. The back of the DialPak contains instructions on how to use the DialPak.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1970
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.044
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.044
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovocon-35 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- Mead Johnson & Company of Evansville, Indiana, produced this Ovocon-35 brand oral contraceptive in 1978. The packaging consists of a white pouch decorated with a purple flower. The 28-pill regimen is in a cardboard blister pack, divided into four rows of seven. To maintain the routine of taking a daily pill, many manufacturers began including a fourth week of inert pills. Ovocon included a fourth week of seven green tablets that were inert. A booklet entitled “Information about the Pill” was included with this oral contraceptive starter pack.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978
- maker
- Mead Johnson and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.045
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovocon-50 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- Mead Johnson & Company of Evansville, Indiana, produced this Ovocon-50 brand oral contraceptive in 1978. The packaging consists of a white pouch decorated with an orange and pink flower. The 28-pill regimen is in a cardboard blister pack, divided into four rows of seven. To maintain the routine of taking a daily pill, Ovocon included a fourth week of inert green pills. A booklet entitled “What you should know about the pill” was included with this oral contraceptive starter pack.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1978
- maker
- Mead Johnson and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.046.A
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.046.A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovocon-50 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- Mead Johnson & Company of Evansville, Indiana, produced this Ovocon-50 brand oral contraceptive in 1978. The packaging consists of a white folder that has a cover decorated with an orange and pink flower. The folder opens up with a pouch containing the pill pack and booklet on one side and a refill form on the other. The 28-pill regimen is in a cardboard blister pack, divided into four rows of seven. To maintain the routine of taking a daily pill, Ovocon included a fourth week of inert green pills. A booklet entitled “What you should know about the pill” was included with this oral contraceptive starter pack.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1978
- maker
- Mead Johnson and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.046.B
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.046.B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovulen-21 Oral Contraceptive
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- Searle & Company produced this Ovulen brand oral contraceptive in San Juan, Puerto Rico, around 1978. The pills are contained in Searle’s trademarked Compack tablet dispenser. Inside the Compack is a 21-pill blister pack that organizes the monthly pill regimen into weekly rows, labeled by day of the week. A pink booklet with butterflies on the cover entitled “Birth Control . . . with ‘the Pill’” is included along with a paper insert with user information.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1978
- maker
- Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.047.A
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.047A
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Next Page