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 3 of 14
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 is included along with a paper insert with user information.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1978
- maker
- Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.047.B
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.047.B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Zorane 1.5/30 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 Lederle Laboratories Division of the American Cyanimid Company produced this Zorane 1.5/30 brand oral contraceptive in 1974. The blue and white packaging has a cover with a floral print and an image of a butterfly. There are no pills included in this packet, but it contains a booklet entitled “What you should know about ‘the pill.’” An image of a man and a woman appears on the cover.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1974-08
- maker
- Lederle Laboratories Division, American Cyanimid Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.069
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.069
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Zorane 1/50 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.
- The Lederle Laboratories Division of the American Cyanimid Company produced this Zorane 1/50 brand oral contraceptive in 1974. The green and white packaging has a cover with a floral print and an image of a butterfly. The 28-pill regimen consists of 21 hormone pills and 7 inert pills. The pills are contained in a rectangular green plastic compact. A booklet entitled “What you should know about ‘the pill,’” with an image of a man and a woman on the cover, is included.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1980
- maker
- American Cyanamid Company. Lederle Laboratories Division
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.070
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.070
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ogen .625 Tab-Pak Estrogen Pill
- 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.
- Abbott Laboratories of Chicago, Illinois, produced this Ogen .625 brand estrogen hormonal treatment around 1977. The yellow, blue, and orange packaging has a cutout to reveal a sample pill. The 21 pills are contained in a trapezoidal blister pack inside a yellow trapezoidal blister pack holder. The holder has the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. These pills contain .625 mg of sodium estrone sulfate.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- case
- 1977
- maker
- Abbott Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.072
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.072
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ogen 1.25 Tab-Pak Estrogen Pill
- 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.
- Abbott Laboratories of Chicago, Illinois, produced this Ogen 1.25 brand estrogen hormonal treatment around 1977. The yellow, blue, and orange packaging has a cutout to reveal a sample pill. The 21 pills are contained in a trapezoidal blister pack inside an orange trapezoidal blister pack holder. The holder has the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. These pills contain 1.25 mg of sodium estrone sulfate.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- drug
- 1979
- maker
- Abbott Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.073
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.073
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ogen 2.5 Tab-Pak Estrogen Pill
- 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.
- Abbott Laboratories of Chicago, Illinois, produced this Ogen 2.5 brand estrogen hormonal treatment around 1977. The yellow, blue, and orange packaging has a cutout to reveal a sample pill. The 21 pills are in a trapezoidal blister pack inside a blue trapezoidal blister pack holder. The holder has the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. These pills contain 2.5 mg of sodium estrone sulfate.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- drug
- 1979
- paper cover
- 1977
- maker
- Abbott Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.074
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.074
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
C-Quens 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.
- Eli Lilly and Company of Indianapolis, Indiana produced this C-Quens brand oral contraceptive around 1965. The paper package is folded matchbook-style with directions and blister pack inside. The pills are laid out to represent a calendar, with 15 white 80 mcg Mestranol tablets, and 5 peach colored tablets that are 80 mcg Mestranol with 2 mg of chlormadinone acetate.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1965
- maker
- Eli Lilly and Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.011
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.011
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Gynovlar 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.
- Schering Chemical Ltd. of Argentina produced this Gynovlar brand oral contraceptive in 1966. Originally founded in Berlin in 1851, Schering had a variety of subsidiaries in Latin America, including a large presence in Argentina. In 1961 Schering released Anovlar, the company’s first oral contraceptive, followed by Gynovlar in 1966. Gynovlar was packaged in a pink and white cardboard box containing a 21-dose silver blister pack and a sheet of paper bearing instructions in Spanish.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1966
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.022
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.022
- 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. The DialPak, introduced by Ortho in 1963, was the first contraceptive packaging to incorporate a “memory aid.” When the user turned the dial to dispense the next pill, the blue wheel in the center would advance to display the next day of the week. The pack includes three cycles of 20 pills.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1965
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.029
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.029
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Micronor 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 Micronor brand oral contraceptive around 1971. The 35 pills are in a DialPak dispenser. When the user turns the dial to dispense the next pill, the wheel in the center displays the next day of the week. The pills are dispensed sideways to accommodate the 35 pills in the cycle.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1971
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.030
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.030
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Next Page