Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

About the Collection
The Smithsonian Institution began to collect objects related to health and medicine in 1881. It first obtained examples of patent medicines in 1930, acquiring packages of Haarlem Oil (or Dutch Drops), Dr. John Hooper’s Female Pills, and Roche’s Herbal Embrocation. Since then the Smithsonian’s collection of patent medicines has expanded to over 4,000 products, dating from the 19th century to the present day.

About this Object Group
This group of objects features examples from this collection, found in the Division of Medicine and Science at the National Museum of American History. Each entry includes a photo of the object, the product’s name, maker’s name, place of manufacture, and a date range. Ingredients and therapeutic claims are included when indicated on the product packaging.

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More Information
Learn more about patent medicine history and how this history is revealed in examples from our collection. Questions or comments? Contact us.

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
trademark date: "Grippe Knockers"
1902-12-16
ID Number
1998.0267.09
accession number
1998.0267
catalog number
1998.0267.09
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For cough, bronchitis, hoarseness, catarrhal winter colds, la grippe, colds, headacheCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For cough, bronchitis, hoarseness, catarrhal winter colds, la grippe, colds, headache
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
M. B. Butler
ID Number
MG.M-10426.38
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707
Brown cardboard box with black printed text and trademark profile of Dr. A. Langham. Box contains a glass bottle with cork stopper and white and black paper label with red border. The trademark image of Dr.
Description
Brown cardboard box with black printed text and trademark profile of Dr. A. Langham. Box contains a glass bottle with cork stopper and white and black paper label with red border. The trademark image of Dr. Langham also appears on the bottle labelBottle is full of pale yellow fluid; 2 fl.oz.
This camphor and chloroform laced liniment was first marketed around 1895. Following the deadly influenza pandemic of 1918, the Jones Medicine Company claimed their product contained “germ-destroying ingredients” that would positively prevent an attack of this “frightful disease.”
Printed on side of box:
"DR. A. LANGHAM's (3.L.L.L.) LIGHTNING LINIMENT carries the unqualified endorsement of the most prominent and succesful Doctors, Judges, Farmers, Lawyers, Bankers, Merchants, etc. of Caldwell, Texas, where it has been sold without a complaint for over twenty-five years. Knowing that our (3.L.L.L.) Liniment contains three of the most deadly GERM-DESTROYING ingredients known, we believed confidently that our preparation would PREVENT Spanish influenza and at its first outbreak in 1918 we determined to make every test possible in order to satisfy our own minds whether or not our liniment would IN FACT PREVENT an attack of this frightful disease. As a result of our experiments we are very proud to announce that we feel absolutely sure that we have discovered in our (3.L.L.L.) Liniment a Sure, Dependable PREVENTATIVE of Spanish influenza, the most CONTAGIOUS and DEADLY plague known to the people of this generation"
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1918
maker
Jones Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.274347.182
catalog number
274347.182
accession number
274347
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Coughs, colds, bronchitis, sore throat, hoarseness, loss of voice, croup, influenza, whooping coughCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Coughs, colds, bronchitis, sore throat, hoarseness, loss of voice, croup, influenza, whooping cough
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1906 -1908
maker
Dr. B. J. Kay Medical Company
Saratoga Medical Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1216
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1216
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Unequaled for Improving the Appetite/ Invigorating the System/ Regulating the Bowels Liver and Kidneys/ CURING DYSPEPSIA/ HEARTBURN AND SOUR STOMACH/ An Invaluable Aid to Persons in Feeble and Delicate
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Unequaled for Improving the Appetite/ Invigorating the System/ Regulating the Bowels Liver and Kidneys/ CURING DYSPEPSIA/ HEARTBURN AND SOUR STOMACH/ An Invaluable Aid to Persons in Feeble and Delicate Health/ REstoring Strength and Vigor to Worn Out Consitituions.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1898 - 1902
maker
Excelsior Medicine Co.
ID Number
2004.0050.01
accession number
2004.0050
catalog number
2004.0050.01
According to the product packaging, this product is indicated for:A Reliable Relief for Pains and Aches. A Scientific Remedy for MAN and BEAST.
Description
According to the product packaging, this product is indicated for:
A Reliable Relief for Pains and Aches. A Scientific Remedy for MAN and BEAST. A Reliable Treatment for Rheumatism, Stiff Joints, Nerualgia, Toothache, Indigestions, Headache, Sour Stomach, Bowel Complaints, Blood Disorder, Worms in Children, Palpitation of the Heart, Female Complains, Lost Vitality in Men and Women, Paralysis, Pains in the Back, Lung Diseases, Asthma, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Colic, Swellings, Wind Colic, Insect Bites and Stings, Spavin, also a reliable Preventative of Influenza and all diseases wthich derive their origin from Stagnant Blood. A Remedy for the Hookworm in People and Death to the Screw Worms in Stock. This Remedy is the Best Known to Medical Science for Female Complaints and Lost Vitality in Mean and Women.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Scientific Electric Fluid Co.
ID Number
2005.0100.024
catalog number
2005.0100.024
accession number
2005.0100

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