Health & Medicine

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.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.15
catalog number
1982.0498.15
accession number
1982.0498
Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases.
Description (Brief)
Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. Developed by Genentech, the first American biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli Lilly and became the first marketable product created through recombinant DNA technology. Its licensing by the FDA in October 1982 also made it the first recombinant pharmaceutical approved for use in the United States.
Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human insulin are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce insulin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Humulin.
Humulin 70/30 is an intermediate-acting insulin combined with the more rapid onset of action of regular human insulin. The duration of activity may last up to 24 hours following injection.
Object is a sealed white cardboard box with black and red printing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1995
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
2012.0046.44
accession number
2012.0046
catalog number
2012.0046.44
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1944
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-05203
catalog number
M-05203
accession number
166920
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02896.03
catalog number
M-02896.03
accession number
111796
The indications or uses for this product are:Indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. ACTOS should be taken once daily and can be taken without regard to meals.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product are:
Indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. ACTOS should be taken once daily and can be taken without regard to meals.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2000
maker
Takeda Chemical Industries, LTD.
Eli Lilly and Company
Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc.
ID Number
2004.3030.03
catalog number
2004.3030.03
nonaccession number
2004.3030
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1936
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.17
catalog number
1982.0498.17
accession number
1982.0498
After the connection between insulin and diabetes was announced in 1921, several pharmaceutical firms hastened to bring insulin and related materials to market. One such was the Eli Lilly & Co. of Indianapolis, which adopted the term Iletin for its insulin.
Description
After the connection between insulin and diabetes was announced in 1921, several pharmaceutical firms hastened to bring insulin and related materials to market. One such was the Eli Lilly & Co. of Indianapolis, which adopted the term Iletin for its insulin. This turned wood canister holds a glass ampule made to contain Lilly U-10 Iletin brand insulin. The label refers to patents of Oct. 9, 1923 and Dec. 23, 1924.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02889.03
catalog number
M-02889.03
accession number
111796
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1980.0076.013
accession number
1980.0076
catalog number
1980.0076.13
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1982
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0153.21
accession number
1982.0153
catalog number
1982.0153.21
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1982
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0153.26
accession number
1982.0153
catalog number
1982.0153.26
Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases.
Description (Brief)
Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. Developed by Genentech, the first American biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli Lilly and became the first marketable product created through recombinant DNA technology. Its licensing by the FDA in October 1982 also made it the first recombinant pharmaceutical approved for use in the United States.
Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human insulin are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce insulin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Humulin.
Humulin 50/50 is an intermediate-acting insulin combined with the more rapid onset of action of regular human insulin. The duration of activity may last up to 24 hours following injection. Due to declining use, Humulin 50/50 was discontinued in 2009.
Object is a sealed white cardboard box with black and red printing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before May 1995
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
2012.0046.47
catalog number
2012.0046.47
accession number
2012.0046
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1982
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0153.22
accession number
1982.0153
catalog number
1982.0153.22
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1982
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0153.24
accession number
1982.0153
catalog number
1982.0153.24
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1980.0076.017
accession number
1980.0076
catalog number
1980.0076.17
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02894.05
catalog number
M-02894.05
accession number
111796
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.11
catalog number
1982.0498.11
accession number
1982.0498
maker number
744
After the connection between insulin and diabetes was announced in 1921, pharmaceutical firms hastened to bring insulin and related materials to market. This cardboard box contains a hypodermic needle in a metal case, a glass bottle for alcohol, and related material.
Description
After the connection between insulin and diabetes was announced in 1921, pharmaceutical firms hastened to bring insulin and related materials to market. This cardboard box contains a hypodermic needle in a metal case, a glass bottle for alcohol, and related material. A label reads in part: “LILLY’S ASEPTIC SYRINGE NEEDLE / NO. 65 / (PATENT 1,625,035)” and “ELI LILLY & COMPANY, INDIANAPOLIS, U.S.A.”
Ref: Eli Lily, “Hypodermic Kit,” U.S. Patent 1,625,035 (April 19, 1927).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02887
catalog number
M-02887
accession number
111796
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.14
catalog number
1982.0498.14
accession number
1982.0498
Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases.
Description (Brief)
Humulin is human insulin used for treating diabetes. Prior to its development, diabetics used insulin isolated from pig and cow pancreases. Developed by Genentech, the first American biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli Lilly and became the first marketable product created through recombinant DNA technology. Its licensing by the FDA in October 1982 also made it the first recombinant pharmaceutical approved for use in the United States.
Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human insulin are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce insulin, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Humulin.
Humulin U is formulated to provide a slower onset and a longer and less intense duration of activity (up to 28 hours) than regular insulin. Due to declining use of longer-acting insulins, Humulin U was discontinued in 2005.
Object is a sealed white cardboard box with black and red printing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before December 1994
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
2012.0046.45
accession number
2012.0046
catalog number
2012.0046.45
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-09648
catalog number
M-09648
accession number
233571
This metal case contains two metal needles, and a graduated glass syringe with an inscription that reads in part “Lilly / ILETIN SYRINGE.” Iletin was the Eli Lilly & Co. trade name for insulin. The inscription on the case reads “Lilly / ASEPTIC.”Currently not on view
Description
This metal case contains two metal needles, and a graduated glass syringe with an inscription that reads in part “Lilly / ILETIN SYRINGE.” Iletin was the Eli Lilly & Co. trade name for insulin. The inscription on the case reads “Lilly / ASEPTIC.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02888
catalog number
M-02888
accession number
111796
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1974
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1985.0475.117
catalog number
1985.0475.117
accession number
1985.0475
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02895.03
catalog number
M-02895.03
accession number
111796
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1951
expiration date
1951-04-01
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1985.0475.849
accession number
1985.0475
catalog number
1985.0475.849

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.