Health & Medicine

Iron Lung

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.

2 in 1 Goodluck Perfume and Love Powder

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1930s
ca 1930s - 1940s
maker
Curio Products Company
ID Number
1986.0873.52
catalog number
1986.0873.52
accession number
1986.0873

Digitalis Duo-Test McNEIL Standard, 100 Black Capsules

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:For use as a cardiac stimulant and diurecticCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:
For use as a cardiac stimulant and diurectic
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1937
maker
McNeil Laboratories
ID Number
MG.308863.20
catalog number
308863.20
accession number
308863

Artificial Leg

Parmelee’s “Artificial Leg” included an atmospheric pressure-conforming rubber bucket molded from the patient’s remaining limb. Parmelee held several patents using India-rubber.Patent model for DuBois D. Parmelee, “Improvement in Artificial Legs,” U.S. Patent 37,737 (Feb.
Description (Brief)
Parmelee’s “Artificial Leg” included an atmospheric pressure-conforming rubber bucket molded from the patient’s remaining limb. Parmelee held several patents using India-rubber.
Description
Patent model for DuBois D. Parmelee, “Improvement in Artificial Legs,” U.S. Patent 37,737 (Feb. 10, 1863). Dubois Duncan Parmalee (1829-1897) was a chemist and inventor in New York City.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1863
patent date
1863-02-10
maker
Parmelee, Dubois D.
ID Number
1978.0273.07
accession number
1978.0273
catalog number
1978.0273.07
patent number
37637

Lockjaw Speculum - from the Surgical Set of Dr. William Park of the City of New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Lockjaw Forceps, ca early 1900s, sometimes sold as Gross' Lockjaw Forceps. The short ends of the tool (right side) were put between the teeth of a lockjaw victim.
Description
Lockjaw Forceps, ca early 1900s, sometimes sold as Gross' Lockjaw Forceps. The short ends of the tool (right side) were put between the teeth of a lockjaw victim. Squeezing the handles (left side) of the forceps ratcheted the short ends apart, forcing open the jaws of the tetanus victim. This instrument was from a set of instruments purportedly used by Dr. William Park of the City of New York Department of Health.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
early 1900s
ID Number
2017.0184.002.34
catalog number
2017.0184.002.34
accession number
2017.0184

Medical Chest for Motor Ambulances at Aviation Camps

First aid chest used by Italian Army in World War I.Currently not on view
Description
First aid chest used by Italian Army in World War I.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1916
ID Number
MG.28627
catalog number
28627
accession number
65023

Razor

An inscription in the lid of the case of this safety razor reads “VALET / Auto Strop Razor / MADE IN U.S.A.” That on the razor head reads “Patented / April 9, 1912 / Other patents pending.” Another reads “STAR SUPER. . .” The Autostrop Safety Razor Company, Inc.
Description
An inscription in the lid of the case of this safety razor reads “VALET / Auto Strop Razor / MADE IN U.S.A.” That on the razor head reads “Patented / April 9, 1912 / Other patents pending.” Another reads “STAR SUPER. . .” The Autostrop Safety Razor Company, Inc. was established in 1906 by Henry J. Gaisman, R. E. Dwight, H. K. Stockton and Henry Audley in New York City.
Ref: Full page ad for Valet Auto Strop Razor, “The World’s Fastest Shave,” in Popular Science Monthly (Oct. 1922), p. 81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1912
maker
Auto Strop Safety Razor Company
ID Number
2012.0046.11
catalog number
2012.0046.11
accession number
2012.0046

Razor

Gilette Safety Razor.Currently not on view
Description
Gilette Safety Razor.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Gillette Company
ID Number
2012.0046.12
catalog number
2012.0046.12
accession number
2012.0046

Edna Hindson's Scrapbook

Edna Black (later Hindson) was a child in 1946 when she was struck with polio and spent time in a hospital and at Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Warm Springs Rehabilitation Facility in Georgia. Her mother kept this scrapbook of that experience.Ref: Lassie G. Black and Edna R.
Description
Edna Black (later Hindson) was a child in 1946 when she was struck with polio and spent time in a hospital and at Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Warm Springs Rehabilitation Facility in Georgia. Her mother kept this scrapbook of that experience.
Ref: Lassie G. Black and Edna R. Black Hindson, My Scrapbook of My Illness with Polio
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1940s-1950s
ID Number
2004.3075.03
nonaccession number
2004.3075
catalog number
2004.3075.03

Sensodyne Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth, Fresh Mint, Starter Samples

Cardboard box with inscriptions that read “Sensodyne / TOOTHPASTE FOR SENSITIVE TEETH / Recommended by Dentists for Sensitive Teeth / Sensitive teeth relief / in a mint flavor” and “FROM / BLOCK DRUG COMPANY, INC.
Description
Cardboard box with inscriptions that read “Sensodyne / TOOTHPASTE FOR SENSITIVE TEETH / Recommended by Dentists for Sensitive Teeth / Sensitive teeth relief / in a mint flavor” and “FROM / BLOCK DRUG COMPANY, INC. / JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302.” The Block Drug Company was established in Brooklyn in 1907 and relocated to Jersey City in 1938. It applied for a trademark on the term Sensodyne in 1960.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Block Drug Company
ID Number
1993.0107.026
catalog number
1993.0107.026
accession number
1993.0107

Dental Floss

Two cylinders of dental floss in a cardboard box. The inscription on one side of the box reads “Butler / RIGHT KIND / UnWaxed Dental Floss / For Personal Oral Hygiene / John O. Butler Co. / Chicago, Ill. 60611 / Printed in U.S.A.
Description
Two cylinders of dental floss in a cardboard box. The inscription on one side of the box reads “Butler / RIGHT KIND / UnWaxed Dental Floss / For Personal Oral Hygiene / John O. Butler Co. / Chicago, Ill. 60611 / Printed in U.S.A. Made in U.S.A.” That on another side adds “Conforming to the Optimum Characteristics / of Dental Floss for Personal Oral Hygiene / as specified by Dr. C. C. Bass / For Personal Oral Hygiene.”
John O. Butler (1873-1973) was a Chicago dentist who, in 1923, established the John O. Butler Company, a firm that manufactured sundry oral-care products. Charles C. Bass (1875-1975) was a physician on the faculty of the Tulane University Medical School. Zip codes were introduced on July 1, 1963.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1963
maker
John O. Butler Company
ID Number
1993.0107.199
catalog number
1993.0107.199
accession number
1993.0107

Bugtite Cup Holder for the Pocket Cup

Disposable cup marked “POCKET SPUTUM FLASK ‘XL’ / Patented / BURNITOL MANUFACTURING CO. / BOSTON, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO.” The inscription on the cardboard box reads “ONE / BUGTITE CUP HOLDER / For The Pocket Cup / D. R. Bulla Co.
Description
Disposable cup marked “POCKET SPUTUM FLASK ‘XL’ / Patented / BURNITOL MANUFACTURING CO. / BOSTON, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO.” The inscription on the cardboard box reads “ONE / BUGTITE CUP HOLDER / For The Pocket Cup / D. R. Bulla Co. / Sophia, N.C.” The Aseptic Drinking Cup Co., of Cambridge, Ma., introduced the term “BURNITOL” to commerce and obtained a trademark in 1906.
Ref: Harry J. Potter, “Collapsible Receptacle,” U.S. Patent 888,653 (May 26, 1908), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Harry J. Potter, “Sputum-Cup,” U.S. Patent 920,180 (May 4, 1909), assigned to Burnitol Manufacturing Co.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Burnitol Manufacturing Company
ID Number
MG.M-11458.01
catalog number
M-11458.01
accession number
260557

Culture Media Set - for Growing Bacterial Cultures - Parke, Davis & Co.

The pharmaceutical firm, Parke, Davis & Company of Detroit, Michigan, began selling culture media for bacteriological work beginning about 1897.
Description
The pharmaceutical firm, Parke, Davis & Company of Detroit, Michigan, began selling culture media for bacteriological work beginning about 1897. This box of fifty glass culture media tubes was intended for use by universities, medical colleges, boards of health, and hospitals.The set includes samples of eight different culture media: Nutrient Gelatin, Glucose Gelatin, Litmus Gelatin, Nutrient Agar, Glycerin Agar, Glucose Agar, Blood Serum according to Dr. Koch, Blood Serum - Loeffler's mixture for diptheria, and several empty tubes. The box also includes tubes containing a sterilzed cotton swab used for making throat cultures to diagnose diphtheria. All of the tubes were sterilized, plugged with cotton and rubber-capped. A box of fifty tubes cost $2.50 in 1897. This specimen was given to the Smithsonian in 1898 by the company. (See objects MG.142336.02 through MG.142336.12 for examples of the individual tubes.)
reference: Parke, Davis & Co. Price List, 1897, pp.108, 180.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1898
maker
Parke, Davis and Company
ID Number
MG.142336.01
catalog number
142336.01
accession number
33542

Toothbrush

Inscriptions on the handle of this toothbrush read “The Pygmalion” and “WARRANTED SECURE” and “FRANCE.”Currently not on view
Description
Inscriptions on the handle of this toothbrush read “The Pygmalion” and “WARRANTED SECURE” and “FRANCE.”
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
MG.M-10562
catalog number
M-10562
accession number
253101

Colgate's Antiseptic Dental Powder, No. 1 Size - to Clease and Whiten the Teeth

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:On toilet and shaving soaps, perfumes, sachets, toilet waters, talc and dental powders.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
On toilet and shaving soaps, perfumes, sachets, toilet waters, talc and dental powders.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1918
product release
1873
maker
Colgate & Company
ID Number
MG.293320.0982
catalog number
293320.0982
accession number
293320

Ardena Invisible Veil, Set of 6 Sample Boxes

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Elizabeth Arden Inc.
ID Number
2009.3030.04
nonaccession number
2009.3030
catalog number
2009.3030.04

Marvelous Foundation Cream Vanishing Cream

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
product launch date
1932
maker
Richard Hudnut
ID Number
1979.0798.204
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.204

Rufus: The Bear with Diabetes

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1999
maker
Russ Berrie and Company, Inc.
ID Number
2017.0192.01
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.01

"Kaitlin's Lucky Stars"

Custom-made fabric waist pack for an insulin pump with zippered closure and belt loop on back. Pack is made of blue denim material with silver stars sewn to front.
Description
Custom-made fabric waist pack for an insulin pump with zippered closure and belt loop on back. Pack is made of blue denim material with silver stars sewn to front. Large star-shaped button on front says "Kaitlin's Lucky Stars." Label inside the pack reads: www.myownstylepack.com. The pack was worn by the donor Kaitlin Papenfuss (later Kaitlin Marie) and made by her mother. Kaitlin's Lucky Stars was the name of her team for the Walk to Cure Diabetes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2004
maker
Papenfuss, Janet Katherine
ID Number
2017.0192.06
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.06

Rufus Comes Home: Rufus, the Bear with Diabetes

Soft cover, staple bound, illustrated children's book. Written by Kim Gosselin and illustrated by Terry Ravanelli. Published by JayJo Books, L.L.C., Copyright 2001.
Description
Soft cover, staple bound, illustrated children's book. Written by Kim Gosselin and illustrated by Terry Ravanelli. Published by JayJo Books, L.L.C., Copyright 2001. Story is about a boy named Brian and his experience being diagnosed with diabetes, learning how to manage diabetes, and receiving the bear Rufus to help him through this process. The book belonged to the donor, Kaitlin Marie, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 2.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2001
maker
Gosselin, Kim
ID Number
2017.0192.04
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.04

waist pack set, for insulin pump

Custom-made fabric waist pack for an insulin pump with zippered closure and belt loop on back. Pack is made of a plush beige material with a pink heart sewn to front. Set includes a matching pack for a toy bear - Rufus: The Bear with Diabetes (see 2017.0192.01).
Description
Custom-made fabric waist pack for an insulin pump with zippered closure and belt loop on back. Pack is made of a plush beige material with a pink heart sewn to front. Set includes a matching pack for a toy bear - Rufus: The Bear with Diabetes (see 2017.0192.01). Label inside the packs reads: www.myownstylepack.com. The pack was made by the donor's mother who began a small business (myownstylepack.com) making custom pump packs for children with diabetes.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2004-2017
maker
Papenfuss, Janet Katherine
ID Number
2017.0192.07
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.07

Medicine Chest

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1861-1884
maker
Ritter, Thomas
Bispham, James L.
ID Number
MG.M-12404
catalog number
M-12404
accession number
285854

Contour Next Link Wireless Blood Glucose Monitoring System Kit

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2013-2014
product expiration date
2015-10
maker
Bayer HealthCare
ID Number
2017.0192.10
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.10

HumaPen Luxura HD

Brown leatherette covered hinged case with gray flocked interior. Insets in interior hold a green and silver colored metal and plastic insulin pen. Interior of case also has insets to hold insulin cartridges. The pen is a free sample. "Lilly" inscribed on exterior of case.
Description
Brown leatherette covered hinged case with gray flocked interior. Insets in interior hold a green and silver colored metal and plastic insulin pen. Interior of case also has insets to hold insulin cartridges. The pen is a free sample. "Lilly" inscribed on exterior of case. No insulin is included. The pen allows for dosing in half unit increments from 1 to 30. It is designed for use with Lilly Humalog insulin 3 ml. cartridges. The pen was introduced around 2009-2010 and was selling for $55 - $60 in 2019.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
2010-2016
maker
Eli Lilly and Company
ID Number
2017.0192.14
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.14

"T1D" Type 1 Diabetes

Black cotton t-shirt, size small. "T1D" printed in white on front left breast. Back features a graphic designed by the donor, Kaitlin Marie.
Description
Black cotton t-shirt, size small. "T1D" printed in white on front left breast. Back features a graphic designed by the donor, Kaitlin Marie. The blue circle is the symbol for diabetes; the small stick figures in a ring around the circle represent the number of people diagnosed with diabetes every day. A white caduceus medical symbol is in the center with a drop of red blood at the bottom (representing the blood drops used for testing blood glucose). "Gildan Ultra Cotton" brand name on neck tag. Kaitlin Marie designed the T-shirt during her senior year of high school and sold them to raise money for diabetes research.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
delete
2014-1015
maker
Marie, Kaitlin
ID Number
2017.0192.15
accession number
2017.0192
catalog number
2017.0192.15

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