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.

Place: Chicago

B & B Surgeon's Germicidal Soap

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bauer & Black
ID Number
MG.M-11465.08
catalog number
M-11465.08
accession number
260557

Dr. King's New Discovery for Consumption

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For consumption, coughs, colds and all diseases of the throat, chest and lungsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For consumption, coughs, colds and all diseases of the throat, chest and lungs
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1900
ID Number
MG.293320.1240
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1240

Hamlin's Blood & Liver Pills

[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]Currently not on view
Description
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1880
maker
Hamlin's Wizard Oil Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.14
catalog number
M-10413.14
accession number
246707

Dr. Fuller's Electro Spiral Magnetic Vegetable Vapor Cure

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For headache; neuralgia; catarrh; hoarseness; asthma; hay fever; colds in the head; pleurisy and sciatica; nervous headache; dizziness; clouded memory; loss of nerve power, and all diseases of the mucous membra
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For headache; neuralgia; catarrh; hoarseness; asthma; hay fever; colds in the head; pleurisy and sciatica; nervous headache; dizziness; clouded memory; loss of nerve power, and all diseases of the mucous membrane
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1888-1906
maker
Fuller and Fuller
ID Number
MG.M-12151.07
catalog number
M-12151.07
accession number
271464

Petrolagar

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For the promotion of proper fecal consistency and the restoration of normal bowel habit timeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For the promotion of proper fecal consistency and the restoration of normal bowel habit time
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1934
maker
Petrolager Laboratories
ID Number
MG.293320.1332
catalog number
293320.1332
accession number
293320

Foley's Family Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For constipation, biliousness and headacheCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For constipation, biliousness and headache
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1910
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1310
catalog number
293320.1310
accession number
293320

Cascasweet

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For your baby for diarrhea, dysentery, summer complaints, constipation, worms, convulsions, teething, wind colic, vomiting of sour curd, mal-assimilation of food, sour stomach, feverishness and want of sleepCur
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For your baby for diarrhea, dysentery, summer complaints, constipation, worms, convulsions, teething, wind colic, vomiting of sour curd, mal-assimilation of food, sour stomach, feverishness and want of sleep
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1908-1918
associated date
1906
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10766 [dup9]
catalog number
M-10766
accession number
256193

Crane's Laxative Mint Chewing Gum

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Relieves constipation, biliousness, sour stomach, bad breathCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Relieves constipation, biliousness, sour stomach, bad breath
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1925
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1391
catalog number
293320.1391
accession number
293320

Corrosive Sublimate Soap

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Armour and Company
ID Number
MG.M-11465.05
catalog number
M-11465.05
accession number
260557

Crane's Quinine and Tar Compound

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:An Expectorant for Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Tickling in throat, Bronchial Coughs, and Coughs resulting from La Grippe.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:
An Expectorant for Coughs, Colds, Hoarseness, Tickling in throat, Bronchial Coughs, and Coughs resulting from La Grippe.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1975
before 1975
before 1975
before 1975
1908-1918
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.314016.068
catalog number
314016.68
accession number
314016

Dr. E. C. West's Nerve and Brain Treatment

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For hysteria, dizziness, convulsions, fits, nervous neuralgia, headache, nervous prostration caused by the use of alcohol or tobacco, wakefulness, mental depression, loss of memory, softening of the brain resul
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For hysteria, dizziness, convulsions, fits, nervous neuralgia, headache, nervous prostration caused by the use of alcohol or tobacco, wakefulness, mental depression, loss of memory, softening of the brain resulting in insanity, premature old age, barrenness, loss of power in either sex, involuntary emissions and spermatorrhoea caused by over exertion of the brain, self-abuse or over indulgence
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1870-1906
maker
John C. West Chemical Company
ID Number
MG.M-12151.13
catalog number
M-12151.13
accession number
271464

Crane's Indigestion Tablets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For indigestion and dyspepsiaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For indigestion and dyspepsia
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1925
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1206
catalog number
293320.1206
accession number
293320

Cascarets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For the cure of chronic constipation. Liver stimulant, strengthen the bowels, make pure blood.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For the cure of chronic constipation. Liver stimulant, strengthen the bowels, make pure blood.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1908-1918
maker
Sterling Remedy Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1201
catalog number
293320.1201
accession number
293320

Foley Cathartic Tablets

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For disorders of the stomach, liver, and bowels caused by constipationCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For disorders of the stomach, liver, and bowels caused by constipation
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.29
catalog number
M-10413.29
accession number
246707

Crane's Corn Remover - for Corns and Callouses

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Removal of corns and callousesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Removal of corns and callouses
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.293320.1205
catalog number
293320.1205
accession number
293320

Dr. Sawyer's Ko-Ro-No Tablets

[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]Currently not on view
Description
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1906-1908
maker
Sawyer Squaw Root Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.01
catalog number
M-10413
accession number
246707

Foley Family Pills for Biliousness Constipation & Headaches

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Biliousness, constipation and headacheCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Biliousness, constipation and headache
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1918
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.074
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.074

Dr. X. Stone's Throat Wafers

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For throat irritations, coughs, hoarseness, tickling of the throat, minor cough due to irritation, and children's coughsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For throat irritations, coughs, hoarseness, tickling of the throat, minor cough due to irritation, and children's coughs
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1933
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Stone Medicine Company
ID Number
1984.0351.002
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.002

20-Mule-Team Borax Soap Chips

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.3007.01
catalog number
1985.3007.01
nonaccession number
1985.3007

Radio Girl Perfume

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Consolidated Royal Chemical Corporation
ID Number
1986.0749.01
accession number
1986.0749
catalog number
1986.0749.01

DeWitt's Creosant Troches

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For coughs due to colds, also soothing for minor bronchial and throat irritations associated with common coldsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For coughs due to colds, also soothing for minor bronchial and throat irritations associated with common colds
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
1984.0351.007
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.007

Pepsodent Ammoniated Tooth Powder

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Lever Brothers Company. Pepsodent Division
ID Number
1988.0717.35
catalog number
1988.0717.35
accession number
1988.0717

Dr. Blumer's Dentone Tooth Paste

date made
ca 1920s
maker
Lincoln Chemical Works
ID Number
1986.0873.11
accession number
1986.0873
catalog number
1986.0873.11

Enovid Oral Contraceptive

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.
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

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