Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection -- History
History

Origin of Patent Medicines
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Hooper's Female Pills |
Many of the earliest English patent medicines, such as Turlington’s Balsam of Life, Bateman’s Pectoral Drops, and Hooper’s Female Pills, were very successful within the American colonies. Some of these medicines survived well into the 20th century, such as Dicey’s Dr. Bateman’s Drops, whose original patent was granted by King George I in1726.
Rise of American Patent Medicines
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Balm of America |
Civil War Taxation
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Left: Alden's bottle; Right: Warner's box |
The government returned to patent medicine taxation during the Spanish American War (1898-1902), using a distinctive “battleship” stamp, as seen on the box of Warner’s Safe Asthma Cure.
Golden Age of Patent Medicines
The second half of the 19th century is considered to be the golden age of American patent medicines. Rapid increases in industry and manufacturing, urban living, advertising in national newspapers and magazines, and the absence of drug regulation all contributed to a boom in the production and consumption of patent medicines. Many people turned to patent medicines out of fear and distrust of contemporary medical practices. This was the period of “heroic medicine,” in which extreme techniques such as bloodletting and the use of harsh purgatives and emetics were often employed by physicians. Working before the advent of germ theory at the end of the 19th century, regular physicians had few therapies that could compete with the patent medicine industry’s promise of easy health in a bottle.
Patent Medicine Advertising
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Blair's pills |
Patent medicine makers were pioneers in the use of such advertising techniques as solicitation through the mail, the provision of free samples and promotional trinkets, national newspaper campaigns, outdoor signage, and testimonials. Popular patent medicine almanacs (free publications of 30 to 40 pages containing weather forecasts, horoscopes, and household and health advice) offered abundant advertising for the sponsoring companies’ products.
Giveaways, such as a matchbook style needle and thread case from the Lydia Pinkham Company, were also used to boost sales.
Unregulated Industry
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Dr. Flint’s Quaker Bitters |
Beginning of Drug Regulation
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Top: Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhea Remedy; Bottom: May's Health Pearl |
Such exposes helped to promote the first federal Food and Drug Act, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 30, 1906. The act was amended in 1912, and an even stronger Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act passed in 1938. These laws required drug labeling to include a list of ingredients and prohibited manufacturers from making false and misleading claims.
From 1906 to 1918 manufacturers could label their products with a “guaranty” that their medicine complied with the new food and drug law. The 1906 law required manufacturers to label their products if any of the following ingredients were present: alcohol, morphine, opium, cocaine, heroin, eucaine, chloroform, cannabis indica, chloral hydrate, or acetanilide. A complete listing of all ingredients was not required until 1938.
Federal food and drug regulation continues to evolve. Amendments to the laws in 1951 established clear distinctions between prescription and over-the-counter drugs. More recently, new regulations have introduced the category of “dietary supplements,” whose health claims must be labeled as “not evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.” Also, a “Drug Facts” label has been required on all over-the-counter medicines since 2002.
Patent Medicines Today
Despite dramatic changes in medical knowledge and federal regulation in the past 100 years, self-medication continues to be a popular form of treatment for many Americans. Although no longer referred to as “patent medicines,” over-the-counter products today offer an enormous array of choices without requiring the consultation of a physician. Manufacturers of these remedies continue to rely on extensive advertising to reach the consumer directly, employing many of the methods pioneered by patent medicine marketers over 100 years ago.


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Turlington's Balsam of Life
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1982.0513.05
- accession number
- 1982.0513
- catalog number
- 1982.0513.05
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10757.098
- catalog number
- M-10757.098
- accession number
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Barkola Globes
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A speedy, thorough and reliable remedy for kidney complaints and rheumatism, backache, bladder and urinary troubles.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1908-1918
- maker
- Old Fort Chemical Company
- ID Number
- MG.274347.246
- catalog number
- 274347.246
- accession number
- 274347
- catalog number
- M-12140
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10757.047
- catalog number
- M-10757.047
- accession number
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
OpH Eye Drops
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For the temporary relief of congestion and discomfort due to minor irritations of the eyes
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Winthrop Laboratories
- ID Number
- 2001.0314.551
- accession number
- 2001.0314
- catalog number
- 2001.0314.551
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10757.054
- catalog number
- M-10757.054
- accession number
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Fletcher's Castoria for Children
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2001.0314.646
- catalog number
- 2001.0314.646
- accession number
- 2001.0314
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Creamalin capsules
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca. 1944
- maker
- Winthrop Chemical Company
- ID Number
- 2001.0314.724
- accession number
- 2001.0314
- catalog number
- 2001.0314.724
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
pHisoAc Cream
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- c. 1970
- maker
- Winthrop Laboratories
- ID Number
- 2001.0314.686
- accession number
- 2001.0314
- catalog number
- 2001.0314.686
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Mercury Bichloride
- ID Number
- MG.M-12151.21
- catalog number
- M-12151.21
- accession number
- 271464
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Phillips' Phospho-Muriate of Quinine
- maker
- Chas H. Philips Chemical Company
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN81508V04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Cascarets Laxative Tablets
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Sterling Remedy Company
- R. L. Watkins Company
- ID Number
- 2001.0314.657
- accession number
- 2001.0314
- catalog number
- 2001.0314.657
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10757.069
- catalog number
- M-10757.069
- accession number
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10757.100
- catalog number
- M-10757.100
- accession number
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
K. & M. Effervescent Bromo Caffeine
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- after 1920 before 1938
- maker
- Keasbey & Mattison Company
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN81570J01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10757.104
- catalog number
- M-10757.104
- accession number
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10757.062
- catalog number
- M-10757.062
- accession number
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Campho-Phenique Powder
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: As a dressing for minor lacerated, contused, and incised wounds. As a dressing after surgical operations.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca. 1910
- maker
- James F. Ballard, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2001.0314.536
- accession number
- 2001.0314
- catalog number
- 2001.0314.536
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
-
K-Y Lubricating Jelly
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Johnson and Johnson
- ID Number
- MG.314016.006
- catalog number
- 314016.006
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Pages
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- data source
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topic
- Health & Medicine 1039
- Laxatives 655
- Catarrh, Cough & Cold Drugs 537
- Indigestion & Nausea Drugs 378
- Pain & Neuralgia Drugs 290
- Blood & Liver Drugs 253
- Respiratory & Asthma Drugs 243
- Rubs, Liniments & Ointments 236
- Rheumatism & Arthritis Drugs 195
- G.E. Damon Collection 171
- Beauty and Health 167
- Bitters 142
- Nerve & Brain Drugs 135
- Women's Health Products 132
- Tonics, Minerals & Vitamins 129
- First Aid Products & Antiseptics 122
- Kidney & Urinary Drugs 114
- Beauty and Hygiene Products: Cure-alls 113
- Skin & Dermatology Drugs 105
- Fever & Chill Drugs 104
-
object type
- Medicine 4530
- Drugs 978
- Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 696
- Patent Medicines; Drugs; Liquid 552
- ?; Patent Medicines; Drugs 181
- Patent Medicines; Drugs 123
- otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 101
- Patent Medicines; Non-Liquid 80
- Bottles 74
- Pharmaceutical 68
- pharmaceutical 48
- Bottle, Medicine 39
- Pharmaceuticals; Drugs; Non-Liquid 32
- Seidlitz Powders; Pharmaceuticals; Drugs; Non-Liquid 31
- otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Liquid 30
- Aspirin; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 29
- Patent Medicine 21
- Aspirin 18
- Seidlitz Powders; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 18
- Bottle, OTC Preparation 15
- date
- place
- culture
-
set name
- Medicine and Science: Medicine 4495
- Health & Medicine 1039
- Beauty and Health 167
- Beauty and Hygiene Products: Cure-alls 113
- Reid Pharmacy, Clifton, Illinois 98
- Sherman Pharmacy, Sherman, New York 57
- Medicine and Science: Pharmacy 32
- Beauty and Hygiene Products: Feet 30
- Work and Industry: Agriculture and Natural Resources 24
- Botanical Medicine 23
- National Museum of American History 23
- American Enterprise 22
- Beauty and Hygiene Products: Skin 18
- The Antibody Initiative 18
- Beauty and Hygiene Products: Feminine Care 10
- Diabetes 9
- M*A*S*H Television Series 9
- Antibody Initiative: Influenza 6
- Antibody Initiative: Diphtheria 5