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 1307 items.
Page 128 of 131
Wolffgang Stoberlein
- Description
- Etching of Wolffgang Stoberlein (1589-1646), a German apothecary.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Stoberlein, Wolffgang
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0057
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-06203
- collector/donor number
- SAP 896
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Die Mondsüchtigen
- Description (Brief)
- A cartoon depicting a dragon clutching a number of men in its arms. There are about 11 men in the dragons arms and one hanging on to its tail. The dragon and the men are 'spewing' German words from their mouths. There are also words printed on the dragons wings and tail. The print is hand colored with watercolors. The background is a green circle filled with goats behind the dragon. The dragon is a yellowish green with a red mouth.
- The men in the print are doctors and the words written on the print are different "cures" for cholera. They include 'vinaigre de qualre volcurs' (four thieves vinegar which was thought to ward of plague), 'pulvis doveri' (an opium mixture that is a diuretic) and kajaputöl (cajuput oil which is an anti-septic). The title of the print, die mondsuchtigen, means 'the moonstruck people' (or crazy people).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0062
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-06276
- collector/donor number
- SAP 968
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Basilius Besler
- Description
- Engraving of Basilius Besler (1561-1629), owner of the Haymarket Apothecary in Nuremberg.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Besler, Basilivs
- ID Number
- 1991.0664.0074
- accession number
- 1991.0664
- catalog number
- M-06200
- collector/donor number
- SAP 893
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Oyster Tin, Pride of the Chesapeake Brand
- Description
- This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the J. D. Groves & Co., located at 117 S. Calvert St. and 116 Cheapside, in Baltimore, Maryland. J. D. Groves also packed fish, fruits, and produce at this address, and was a delegate at the first annual meeting of the Oyster Growers and Dealers Association of North America, held in Baltimore May 18-19, 1909.
- In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
- This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. The distinctive orange tin features a porthole design with a sailing schooner inside. Like many Baltimore oyster packers, the J. D. Groves Company included a message to consumers concerning the sanitary conditions under which the oysters were packed. The reverse of the can reads:
- “WE GUARANTEE THIS CAN TO CONTAIN STRICTLY FRESH SHUCKED OYSTERS / FREE FROM PRESERVATIVES OF ANY KIND / QUALITY AND QUANTITY GUARANTEED.”
- date made
- 1920s
- 1920-1930
- maker
- J. D. Groves & Co.
- ID Number
- 2007.0054.01
- catalog number
- 2007.0054.01
- accession number
- 2007.0054
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Oyster Tin, Foote's Best Oysters
- Description
- This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the D. E. Foote & Co., Inc. Established in 1870 on West and Jackson Streets in Baltimore, D. E. Foote was one of a hundred oyster packing firms in the city that year, reflecting the enormous volume of trade in oysters from the Chesapeake Bay.
- In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
- This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. It includes the old-style bail handle, a feature that was phased out around this time in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs. Like many Baltimore oyster packers, the Foote Company addressed consumers’ fears about sanitation by emphasizing the clean conditions under which the oysters were handled and citing its compliance with the law. The message to consumers on the reverse of the can reads: “THIS CAN CONTAINS STRICTLY FRESH SHUCKED SALT WATER OYSTERS PACKED UNDER PERSONAL SUPERVISION IN THE MOST SANITARY MANNER IN CONFORMITY WITH THE NATIONAL PURE FOOD LAW. KEEP ON ICE UNTIL USED.”
- date made
- 1920-1930
- maker
- D. E. Foote & Co., Inc
- ID Number
- 2007.0062.01
- catalog number
- 2007.0062.01
- accession number
- 2007.0062
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Oyster Tin, Heyser’s Oysters
- Description
- This gallon tin once contained fresh oyster meats packed by the Wm. Heyser Company. Established in 1871 between Pratt, Grant, and Ellicott Streets in Baltimore, the block became known as the “Heyser block” as the company grew.
- In 1906 the U.S. Congress passed several pure food laws in response to outbreaks of typhoid fever and gastrointestinal ailments linked to poor sanitation. Several new regulations were imposed on the oyster industry after contaminated oysters were blamed for serious illnesses. The laws required inspections of oyster beds and packing houses, as well as the identification of shellfish sources and standardized labeling.
- This tin probably dates to the period 1920-30, when colorful lithographed tins became popular. Heyser’s distinctive red tins featured a stylized H resting on an open oyster with the sun’s rays shining on a waterfront city certainly meant to be Baltimore. It includes the old-style bail handle, a feature that was phased out around this time in an effort to reduce manufacturing costs.
- Like many Baltimore oyster packers, Wm. Heyser explicitly addressed consumers’ fears about sanitation by emphasizing the clean conditions under which the oysters were handled and citing its compliance with the law. The reverse of the tin contains this message:
- “GUARANTEE / OYSTERS CONTAINED IN THIS CAN WERE PACKED IN THE MOST ADVANCED SANITARY MANNER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PURE FOODS REGULATIONS
- Shucked Fresh From The Beds—CAUTION—Fresh oysters are perishable. This can must be kept in refrigerator or in contact with ice until contents are used.”
- date made
- 1920-1930
- maker
- Wm Heyser Co.
- ID Number
- 2007.0087.01
- catalog number
- 2007.0087.01
- accession number
- 2007.0087
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Satchel
- Description
- Midwives have been helping deliver babies for millennia. Midwives in the early 20th century, with the advent of big-city hospitals continued to serve the needs of immigrants and rural American women.
- The owner of this midwife kit was Rosa Bonfanto. Rosa was from Palermo, Sicily, and immigrated to the United States in 1922, settling first in Buffalo, NY, and later in Albany. Her satchel and its contents, along with her story are shrouded in mystery. Rosa's grandson, Joseph Badlotto, writes in a brief statement that according to family lore, Rosa had an affair in Sicily with Carlo Chirchirillo (the donor's natural grandfather). Born of that affair in 1918 was a baby girl, named Mary (the donor's mother). Carlos and his wife, Felicia, raised the child, and in 1920 immigrated to the United States. Rosa followed about two years later posing as the child's godmother. Years passed before the truth about Mary's parentage became known.
- Black leather bag with four round metal feet, one black leather handle on each side, and a metal buckle on one side. A strap to close the bag has detached and is kept inside. The interior is tan, brown, and yellow plaid, with one pocket, opening and bottom rim have interior metal support. the bottom has a stamp depicting a G and two letters, possibly both o's within. the bag was part of a midwives kit from Buffalo, NY about 1920.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2012.3061.02
- nonaccession number
- 2012.3061
- catalog number
- 2012.3061.02
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Corset and Whalebone Scrimshaw Busk
- Description
- For much of the nineteenth century, ladies' fashion required very small waists. The most common way to achieve this was to wear a tight laced corset, which could be adjusted according to the specific garment it accompanied. Like this example, many of them were handmade to fit an individual, although they were also available in shops.
- One of the most intimate pieces of scrimshaw a whaleman could produce was a bone or baleen busk, or corset stiffener. These were carved and given to a crewman's loved one, who then inserted it into a matching sleeve on her corset as a unique memento of her beloved's feelings.
- One side of this whalebone busk contains three cityscapes, two of which have busy ports with lots of shipping. The other side has eight vertical pictures, topped by a full frontal portrait of a beautiful young woman. She may represent the recipient of this busk. Below her is a city scene with multiple church steeples over a flag in a precinct. A multi-colored circular geometric pattern is at the center, above a garden scene over a delicate basket of flowers. Next is a three-masted warship, and at the bottom is a large rural villa overlooking a walled garden. Can these pictures be woven into a story?
- date made
- mid-nineteenth century
- mid-1800s
- fashion
- 19th century
- ID Number
- DL*374478
- catalog number
- 374478
- accession number
- 136263
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Atwood's Jaundice Bitters
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
- Recommended for jaundice, headache, dyspepsia, worms, dizziness, loss of appetite, darting pains, colds and fevers. For cleansing the blood of humors and moistening the skin. Also for liver complaints, strangury, dropsy, croup and phthisis.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1908-1918
- maker
- Hall & Ruckel
- ID Number
- MG*293320.1173
- accession number
- 293320
- catalog number
- 293320.1173
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Kickapoo Indian Sagwa Renovator
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
- Cures dyspepsia, sick headache, loss of appetite, heartburn, depression, neuralgia, female disorders, liver complaint, constipation, indigestion, rheumatism, impure blood, jaundice, bilious attacks, fever and ague, and all diseases of the stomach, liver, kidneys and the blood
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1881-1906
- after 1881
- maker
- Healy & Bigelow
- ID Number
- MG*293320.1221
- catalog number
- 293320.1221
- accession number
- 293320
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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