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 7 items.
Ovral 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1982. The 21 pills are encased in a plastic and aluminum blister pack with punch-outs on the reverse. The blister pack is surrounded by a white plastic holder with the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The blister pack has a rectangular white plastic carrying pouch that is decorated with two blue flowers and a yellow-green butterfly. The Ovral pill regimen came with a separate white paper insert with instructions for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1982
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 1980.0160.12
- accession number
- 1980.0160
- catalog number
- 1980.0160.12
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovral 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1982. The 21 pills are encased in a plastic and aluminum blister pack with punch-outs on the reverse. The blister pack is surrounded by a white plastic holder with the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The blister pack has a rectangular white plastic carrying pouch that is decorated with two blue flowers and a yellow-green butterfly. The Ovral pill regimen came with a separate white paper insert with instructions for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1982
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 1980.0160.13
- accession number
- 1980.0160
- catalog number
- 1980.0160.13
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Ovral 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1982. The 21 pills are in a blister pack that is inserted into a white plastic holder. The holder has the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The pills come with a carrying sleeve decorated with flowers and a butterfly. The pill pack includes a paper insert with instructions for the user.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1981
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 1981.0760.042
- accession number
- 1981.0760
- catalog number
- 1981.0760.042
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Alesse -28 Oral Contraceptive Starter Pack
- 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produced this Alesse-28 brand oral contraceptive starter pack around 1998. Alesse-28 is in a soft blue plastic zippered pouch that contains two foil-wrapped dial dispensers. This dial dispenser contains 21 pink combination hormone pills and 7 green inert pills. The starter pack includes five paper inserts detailing patient and product information including the booklet “Starting Out Right with New Alesse.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1998
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 1997.0360.11
- accession number
- 1997.0360
- catalog number
- 1997.0360.11
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Levlen 28 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.
- Berlex Laboratories, a subsidiary of Wyeth Laboratories Inc. in Wayne, New Jersey, produced this Levlen 28 brand oral contraceptive around 1997. The object consists of a white paper box containing a physician’s sample of Levlen 28 with two user information leaflets. Levlen 28 came in Wyeth’s patented Slidecase dispenser. The monthly dosage consists of 21 orange hormonal pills and 7 pink inert pills.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1997
- maker
- Berlex Laboratories, Inc.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 2004.0118.02
- catalog number
- 2004.0118.02
- accession number
- 2004.0118
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Triphasil-28 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.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, produced this Triphasil-28 brand oral contraceptive around 1998. The box contains a foil wrapped mini-cycle pack dispenser, informational leaflet, and pink plastic wallet for the dispenser. The monthly dosage consists of 28 tablets, 6 brown tablets, 5 white tablets, 10 yellow tablets, and 7 green tablets. The green tablets are inert pills that are taken to maintain the routine of taking a daily pill. The cycle pack dispenser has a center wheel inscribed with the days of the week and an outer ring of pills that can be aligned with the day of the week corresponding to the start of the pill cycle.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1998
- maker
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 2004.0118.09
- accession number
- 2004.0118
- catalog number
- 2004.0118.09
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Tri-Levlen 28 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.
- Berlex Laboratories, a subsidiary of Wyeth Laboratories Inc. in Wayne, New Jersey, produced this Tri-Levlen 28 brand oral contraceptive around 1996. The object consists of a white paper box containing a physician’s sample of Levlen 28 and a user’s information booklet entitled “What You Should Know About Your New Oral Contraceptive.” Tri-Levlen 28 includes Wyeth’s patented Slidecase dispenser. The monthly dosage consists of 6 brown tablets, 5 white tablets, 10 yellow tablets, and 7 green inert tablets.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1996
- maker
- Berlex Laboratories, Inc.
- Wyeth Laboratories Inc.
- ID Number
- 2004.0118.11
- accession number
- 2004.0118
- catalog number
- 2004.0118.11
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center