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 5 of 14
Oracon-28 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 Oracon-28 brand oral contraceptive in 1974. Oracon was a 28-pill sequential oral contraceptive. The blister pack contains 16 white estrogen pills, 6 pink combination estrogen and progesterone pills, and 6 green inert pills. The monthly dosage is organized into four weekly rows of pills that are numbered 1–28.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1974
- maker
- Mead Johnson and Company
- ID Number
- 1985.0475.143
- catalog number
- 1985.0475.143
- accession number
- 1985.0475
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum 10/11 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 Manati, Puerto Rico, produced this Ortho-Novum 10/11 brand oral contraceptive around 1981. The monthly dosage is in a 28-pill DialPak dispenser and consists of 10 white tablets of estrogen, 11 peach tablets of combination estrogen and progesterone pills, and 7 green inert pills. The contraceptives are packaged in a blue foil wrapper as a physician’s sample that was not for sale.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1981
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.03
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.03
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 28 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 7/7/7 brand oral contraceptive around 1984. The monthly dosage is in a 28-pill DialPak dispenser. The 7/7/7 referred to the three weeks of 7 active pills. Each week consists of varying ratios of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol, followed by 7 inert pills to finish the 28-day cycle. This contraceptive pack was distributed as a physician’s sample, not for sale.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1984
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.04
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.04
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 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.
- The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 brand oral contraceptive around 1984. The monthly dosage is in a 21-pill DialPak dispenser. The 7/7/7 referred to the three weeks of 7 active pills. Each week consists of varying ratios of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol. This monthly regimen consists of only 21 pills, omitting the 7 inert pills at the end of the month. The contraceptive pack was distributed as a physician’s sample, not for sale.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1984
- maker
- Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.05
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.05
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Triphasil-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.
- Wyeth Laboratories of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produced this Triphasil-21 brand oral contraceptive around 1984. The monthly dosage of 28 pills consists of 6 brown, 5 white, 10 yellow, and 7 green tablets in a blister pack housed in a grey compact case. Triphasil-21 is packaged in a purple box with the advertising slogan, “The First Oral Contraceptive Tuned to Her Timing,” and includes an instructional paper insert.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1984
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.06
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.06.01
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Tri-Leven 28 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.
- Berlex Laboratories, Inc. of Wayne, New Jersey, produced this Tri-Leven 28 brand oral contraceptive around 1985. The monthly dosage of 28 pills consists of 6 brown, 5 white, 10 yellow, and 7 green tablets in a blister pack. The blister pack is contained in a grey compact case. Included in the physician’s sample was a booklet entitled “What you should know about your new oral contraceptive” that has a profile image of a woman with flowers in her hair on the cover.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1985
- maker
- Berlex Laboratories, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.07
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.07.01
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Levlen 28 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.
- Berlex Laboratories, Inc. of Wayne, New Jersey, produced this Levlen 28 brand oral contraceptive around 1985. The monthly dosage of 28 pills is arranged in 4 weekly rows labeled by day of the week and dispensed in a plastic compact case. Included in this physician's sample is a booklet entitled “What you should know about your new oral contraceptive.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1985
- maker
- Berlex Laboratories, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.08
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.08.01
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Norinyl 1+35 28-Day 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.
- Syntex Incorporated of Humacao, Puerto Rico, produced this Norinyl 1 + 35 brand oral contraceptive around 1987. The 28-pill monthly dose of Norinyl has 21 green pills arranged in a racetrack pattern with each pill labeled by day of the week, and 7 inert orange pills arrange in a row below. The cardboard blister pack is in a brown synthetic suede "Wallette" dispenser. Norinyl came with a booklet entitled “What you should know about oral contraceptives.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1987
- maker
- Syntex F.P. Inc.
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.09
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.09
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Genora 1/35 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.
- Rugby Laboratories, Inc. of Rockville Centre, New York, produced this Genora 1/35 brand oral contraceptive around 1987. The 21-pill blister pack is contained inside a clamshell-shaped plastic compact case. The packaging contains a pamphlet with illustrations of various women with the claim “manufactured with 25 years of norethindron/estrogen combinations experience.” Another insert touts the low cost of Genora as compared to the brand-name Ortho-Novum.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1987
- maker
- Rugby Laboratories, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.11
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.11.01
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
N.E.E. 1/35 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.
- Lexis Pharmaceuticals of Austin, Texas, produced this N.E.E. 1/35 brand oral contraceptive around 1988. The 21-pill monthly dosage is in a blister pack arranged in three weekly rows of seven pills. The columns are labeled with the days of the week. The blister pack slips into a grey plastic sleeve. N.E.E. was a generic prescription. This object is a promotional pack that was mailed to doctors. It includes a booklet that introduces the new pill with “added physician and patient value” and calls itself “The OC brand for today’s generation.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1988
- maker
- Lexis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Schering Canada, Inc.
- ID Number
- 1988.0655.12
- catalog number
- 1988.0655.12.01
- accession number
- 1988.0655
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
- Next Page