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.

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 R is considered to be "regular" insulin and has had nothing added to change the speed or length of its action. It takes effect rapidly and has a relatively short duration of activity (6 to 8 hours) as compared with other insulin formulations.
Object consists of a white cardboard box with black and red printing. Box contains two product inserts and one round clear glass bottle with an orange plastic cap and a white label. Bottle contains a yellowish, clear solution.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1987
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1987.0790.03
accession number
1987.0790
catalog number
1987.0790.03
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1952
expiration date
1952-10-19
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1978.0882.32
accession number
1978.0882
catalog number
1978.0882.32
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1962
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10250.04
catalog number
M-10250.04
accession number
241449
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 N is formulated to have a slower onset of action than regular insulin and a longer duration of activity (slightly less than 24 hours).
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
2012.0046.43
accession number
2012.0046
catalog number
2012.0046.43
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1952
expiration date
1952-10-17
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1978.0882.37
accession number
1978.0882
catalog number
1978.0882.37
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:This soap is especially prepared for women who look after the care of their complexions.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
This soap is especially prepared for women who look after the care of their complexions. All women who wish to be beautiful and retain their beauty should add this pure soap to their list of toilet articles.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1908-1918
maker
Dr. J.B. Lynas & Son
ID Number
1988.0376.02
catalog number
1988.0376.02
accession number
1988.0376
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1952
expiration date
1952-10-16
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1978.0882.96
accession number
1978.0882
catalog number
1978.0882.96
Blood glucose monitor with packaging, bag of lancets, user's manual, lancet device pamphlet, warranty card, Accu-Chek Online pamphlet, Quick Reference Guide, and self-check diary.
Description
Blood glucose monitor with packaging, bag of lancets, user's manual, lancet device pamphlet, warranty card, Accu-Chek Online pamphlet, Quick Reference Guide, and self-check diary. Blood glucose monitor is blue plastic with white print, LCD display panel, and white buttons with blue print. Handwritten "399047" on the back. Box is white and green with black, green, and yellow print with pictures of the blood glucose monitor and pictorial instructions on the back. Clear plastic bag of lancets includes 10 white plastic and metal lancets. User's Manual is spiral-bound in white metal and is white paper with green, black and blue print. Contains pictorial instructions and is in English and Spanish. Lancet device pamphlet is white paper with black and gray print and pictorial instructions for use as well as a coupon on the back. Warranty card is folded white paper with blue, yellow, gray, black, and white print with a picture of a clock on the front. Accu-Chek Online pamphlet is white paper with gold, yellow, and black print with picture of sea shells and a computer on it. Quick Reference Guide is white paper with black, green, and blue print and pictorial instructions for usage. English and Spanish print. Self-check Diary is white paper with blue and black print. Cover includes picture of a sunflower.
Printed on box: All-in-one convenience; All-in-one convenience
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2001
maker
Roche Diagnostics. Division of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.
ID Number
2014.0140.27
accession number
2014.0140
catalog number
2014.0140.27
After the connection between insulin and diabetes was announced in 1921, several pharmaceutical firms hastened to bring insulin and related materials to market.
Description
After the connection between insulin and diabetes was announced in 1921, several pharmaceutical firms hastened to bring insulin and related materials to market. This cardboard box contains one hypodermic needle and carries a text that reads in part “ONE LILLEY ASEPTIC GLASS / ILETIN SYRINGE No. 230 / Complete with two steel needles. Graduated to administer U-10 and U-20 Iletin” and “ELI LILLEY AND COMPANY, INDIANAPOLIS, U.S.A.” The inscription on the syringe reads “Lilley 993 / NO. 230-ILETIN SYRINGE / ELI LILLY & CO. INDIANAPOLIS, U.S.A.” Iletin was the Eli Lilly trade name for insulin. The firm filed for a trademark on the term in 1922.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.12
catalog number
1982.0498.12
accession number
1982.0498
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
about 1994
product expiration date
1997-04-01
ID Number
2014.3066.06
nonaccession number
2014.3066
catalog number
2014.3066.06
Carrying case with blood glucose monitor, check strip, code strip, bottle of normal control fluid, two types of Glucometer Elite test strips, and instructions card.Blood glucose monitor is light grey plastic with dark red print and barcode.
Description
Carrying case with blood glucose monitor, check strip, code strip, bottle of normal control fluid, two types of Glucometer Elite test strips, and instructions card.
Blood glucose monitor is light grey plastic with dark red print and barcode. Carrying case is red vinyl with black zipper and black mesh pockets and clear plastic sleeves. Clear, plastic bag contains check strip with white paper slip in English and Spanish. Clear, plastic packet contains green code strip. First set of test strips includes 4 individually packaged test strips. Packages are white with black print and expire in December 1999. Second set of test strips includes 5 individually packaged test strips. Packages are white with dark red print and expire August 2001. Instruction card is white paper with black and dark red print. Includes pictorial instructions for using the blood glucose monitor, recalling memory, marking control, deleting all memory, and deleting a test result.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
about 1997
maker
Bayer
ID Number
2014.0140.05
accession number
2014.0140
catalog number
2014.0140.05
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1962
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10250.01
catalog number
M-10250.01
accession number
241449
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 L is an intermediate-acting insulin with a slower onset of action than regular insulin and a longer duration of activity (up to 24 hours). Due to declining use of longer-acting insulins, Humulin L was discontinued in 2005.
Object is a sealed white cardboard box with black and red printing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before March 1995
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
2012.0046.46
accession number
2012.0046
catalog number
2012.0046.46
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1982
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0153.20
accession number
1982.0153
catalog number
1982.0153.20
Rectangular, beige plastic glucose monitor with brown buttons and print. Six step instructions on back of glucose monitor. Operator's Manual is white paper with brown paper cover. Black and brown print and instructional pictures on the inside.
Description
Rectangular, beige plastic glucose monitor with brown buttons and print. Six step instructions on back of glucose monitor. Operator's Manual is white paper with brown paper cover. Black and brown print and instructional pictures on the inside. Serial number 230420.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
about 1985
maker
Boehringer Mannheim Corporation
ID Number
2014.0140.07
accession number
2014.0140
catalog number
2014.0140.07
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02891.02
catalog number
M-02891.02
accession number
111796
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1980.0076.012
accession number
1980.0076
catalog number
1980.0076.12
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1943
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
2002.0038.04
catalog number
2002.0038.04
accession number
2002.0038
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1962
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10250.02
catalog number
M-10250.02
accession number
241449
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920s
ca 1923
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.03
catalog number
1982.0498.03
accession number
1982.0498
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1962
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10250.03
catalog number
M-10250.03
accession number
241449
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
MG.M-02886
catalog number
M-02886
accession number
111796
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
1982.0498.15
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

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