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 69 items.
Page 1 of 7
Dewitt's Pine Tar Shampoo
- Description
- Dewitt’s Pine Tar Shampoo was produced by E. C. DeWitt and Company of Chicago, Ill. The company marketed a variety of patent medicines beginning in the late 19th century, including Kodol pills for dyspepsia, One Minute Cough Cure, and Cascasweet for infants and children. The C. B. Fleet Company acquired E. C. DeWitt in 1990.
- While the exact date of this shampoo is not known, the trademark of a sun with rays rising over mountains was first used by the company in 1906 and officially trademarked in 1908. Pine tar was commonly employed to treat skin irritation and to restore health to itchy and inflamed skin, while relieving discomfort.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- E. C. DeWitt and Company
- ID Number
- 1979.0798.228
- accession number
- 1979.0798
- catalog number
- 1979.0798.228
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Danderine
- Description
- Danderine Scalp Tonic was first marketed around 1895 by the Knowlton Danderine Company of Chicago, Ill. The trademark was registered in 1908, after the company became part of the Neuralgyline Company (soon to become Sterling Products) of Wheeling, W.Va. In the early 1900s, the company used celebrity endorsements including those of Miss Jessie Bartlett Davis, a famous opera singer, and many members of the House of Representatives.
- Advertisements usually featured women with floor-length, wavy hair, often accompanied by personal testimony. Elias W. Knowlton’s young daughter, Frances Marie, also appeared in advertising and on the box. During this period, the Danderine slogan was "Grows Hair and We can Prove it!" Danderine was still being sold as late as 1945 and was later followed by Double Danderine, which claimed to kill the dandruff germ on contact. Double Danderine was sold from 1946 through 1963. The Danderine trademark was last owned by Medtech Laboratories of Cody, Wyo.
- In the 1920s, Danderine was marketed as a "Beauty-Tonic," "To Beautify your Hair" and make it "twice as heavy and plentiful." This box dates to that period.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- after 1918
- maker
- Knowlton Danderine Co.
- Sterling Products Inc.
- ID Number
- 1979.0798.235
- accession number
- 1979.0798
- catalog number
- 1979.0798.235
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Cleero Shampoo
- Description
- Van Ess Laboratories of Chicago, Ill., introduced Cleero Shampoo in 1924, although their advertising claimed it had been in use privately and in Europe for 20 years. Cleero was a no-rinse shampoo. The company promoted the idea that soap and water were bad for the hair. Cleero did not produce the usual alkaline (soapy) lather, but "snow-white foam" instead. When the shampoo was done working, it would turn grey and the user could simply towel it off. The process was repeated until the foam no longer turned grey.
- Suspecting dishonesty in advertising, the American Medical Association analyzed the Cleero formula in 1924. They found it to be ordinary cocoanut [coconut] oil based soap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1924-1938
- maker
- Van Ess Laboratories
- ID Number
- 1980.0698.110
- accession number
- 1980.0698
- catalog number
- 1980.0698.110
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Enovid 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 G. D. Searle Company of Chicago, Illinois, produced these Enovid 5-milligram tablets for the drug's clinical trials in the late1950s. The oral contraceptive was originally tested in a 10-milligram dose, but when many women experienced unpleasant side effects the dosage was dropped to 5-milligrams. Before the introduction of "memory aid" packaging, Enovid was dispensed in 20 tablet vials. This sample was donated to the Smithsonian by the Margaret Sanger Center of New York City.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1955-1960
- maker
- G. D. Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1982.0531.032
- catalog number
- 1982.0531.032
- accession number
- 1982.0531
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Enovid 5 Milligram 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.
- G.D. Searle and Company of Chicago, Illinois produced these Enovid 5-milligram capsules for the drug's clinical trials in the late1950s. The oral contraceptive was originally tested in a 10-milligram dose, but when many women experienced unpleasant side effects the dosage was dropped to 5-milligrams. This bottle of Enovid was donated to the Smithsonian by Mary Ann Johnson, a technician who worked in the Worcester Foundation of Experimental Biology where the birth control pill was developed.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1956-1958
- maker
- G. D. Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1991.0883.1
- catalog number
- 1991.0883.1
- accession number
- 1991.0883
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Enovid-E (20) 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.
- G. D. Searle and Company of Chicago, Illinois, produced this Enovid-E brand oral contraceptive in 1976. The 20-pill blister pack is in a trademarked Compack plastic case. The days of the week are written in gold around the rim of the Compack, with three pills descending to the center under each day except Friday, which has only two pills. This object was donated to the Museum as a dispenser that fell under the claims of David Wagner’s patent (seen in object 1995.0057.01).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1976
- maker
- G. D. Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1995.0057.03
- catalog number
- 1995.0057.03
- accession number
- 1995.0057
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovulen-20 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.
- G. D. Searle and Company of Chicago, Illinois, produced this Ovulen-20 brand oral contraceptive around 1978. The 20-pill blister pack is in a trademarked Compack plastic case. The days of the week are written in silver around the rim of the Compack, with three pills descending to the center under each day except Saturday, which has only two pills. This object was donated to the Museum as a dispenser that fell under the claims of David Wagner’s patent (seen in object 1995.0057.01).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1978
- maker
- G. D. Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1995.0057.04
- catalog number
- 1995.0057.04
- accession number
- 1995.0057
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Enovid-E 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.
- G. D. Searle and Company of Chicago, Illinois, produced this Enovid-E 21 brand oral contraceptive around 1975. This 21 pill blister pack is in a trademarked Compack plastic case. The gold-foil blister pack organizes the monthly dosage into three weekly rows, with each column labeled for the day of the week. This pack includes a pamphlet directing patients on proper usage. This object was donated to the Museum as a dispenser that did not fall under the claims of David Wagner’s patent (seen in object 1995.0057.01).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1975
- maker
- G. D. Searle and Company
- ID Number
- 1995.0057.05
- catalog number
- 1995.0057.05
- accession number
- 1995.0057
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Canthrox Shampoo
- Description
- Canthrox was sold by H. S. Peterson and Company of Chicago, Ill., from 1909 until the mid-1930s. The product was marketed to prevent dandruff, falling hair, and graying. Canthrox was always packaged in a tin box. In 1911 a tin of Canthrox, good for fifteen shampoos, cost fifty cents. It was advertised as a "pleasure and a delight," and would clean your hair "Completely, thoroughly and satisfactorily—yet easily and gently."
- The company claimed that hair shampooed with Canthrax would dry more quickly and streak-free. In the mid-to-late 1920s, this quick-drying quality was used to appeal to women with the new short haircuts, or "bobs." Canthrox would "Make the bob more becoming." Advertisements often appeared in newspaper ‘amusement’ sections alongside news of the latest movies and plays and the celebrities who had helped popularize the bobbed style.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1930
- maker
- H.S. Peterson & Co.
- ID Number
- 2002.0138.139
- accession number
- 2002.0138
- catalog number
- 2002.0138.139
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ogen .625 Oral Contraceptives
- 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 Upjohn Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan, produced this Ogen .625 oral contraceptive around 1996. The green cardboard box contains a white plastic bottle and user information insert.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1996
- maker
- Upjohn Company
- Abbott Laboratories
- ID Number
- 2004.0118.04
- accession number
- 2004.0118
- catalog number
- 2004.0118.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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