Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

Balm of America Banner image, a collection of medicine

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.

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Cacaps

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.0184.047
accession number
2017.0184
catalog number
2017.0184.047

Peacock's Bromides

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer or by reference literature from the period are:Cortical epilepsy, excessive sexual desire, stychnine poisoning and tetanus, convulsion in children due to intestinal and stomachic derangement., chorea, deliri
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer or by reference literature from the period are:
Cortical epilepsy, excessive sexual desire, stychnine poisoning and tetanus, convulsion in children due to intestinal and stomachic derangement., chorea, delirium tremons, climacteric period in women, migraine, female pelvic diseases of reflex nature; as headache ovarian neuralgia, and increased sensibility of all parts.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1935-1950s
maker
Od Peacock Sultan Company
ID Number
1984.0782.146
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.146

Peroxoids - Magnesium Superoxol

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.0184.078
accession number
2017.0184
catalog number
2017.0184.078

Spencer's Fumigating Diphtheritic Pastilles - A Fumar Antiseptic for the Prophylactic and Specific Treatment of Diphtheria

The indications or uses of this product as provided on the packaging are:The inclosed pastilles are so compounded as to be absolutely harmless to the human economy, while their fumes effectually destroy all contagious, putrefactive and disease-bearing germs.No matter what the exp
Description
The indications or uses of this product as provided on the packaging are:
The inclosed pastilles are so compounded as to be absolutely harmless to the human economy, while their fumes effectually destroy all contagious, putrefactive and disease-bearing germs.
No matter what the exposure may be, these burning pastilles will positively prevent the spreading and communicating of diphtheria, small-pox, scarlet fever and allied epidemic diseases.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Spencer, Thomas D.
ID Number
MG.M-11460.03
catalog number
M-11460.03
accession number
260557

Atophan - Trial Sample

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
trademark date (Atophan)
1911-12-26
maker
Schering & Glatz
ID Number
2017.0184.046
catalog number
2017.0184.046
accession number
2017.0184

Cure "Himrod"

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Rhume rose, diphterie, asthme, catarrhe, croup, grippe, rhumes ordinaires [rheum, diphtheria, asthma, catarrh, croup, grippe.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Rhume rose, diphterie, asthme, catarrhe, croup, grippe, rhumes ordinaires [rheum, diphtheria, asthma, catarrh, croup, grippe.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1890
maker
Himrod Manufacturing Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1308
catalog number
293320.1308
accession number
293320

Dr. A. Langham's Lightning Liniment (3 L.L.L.)

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

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 [influenza]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 [influenza]
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1921 -1938
maker
Crane Medicine Co.
ID Number
MG.M-10426.43
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707

Morgan's Hypophosphites

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Treatment of phthisis, rickets, anemia, chlorosis, scrofula, grippe, pneumonia, typhus, typhoid fever, malariaCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Treatment of phthisis, rickets, anemia, chlorosis, scrofula, grippe, pneumonia, typhus, typhoid fever, malaria
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1906 - 1908
maker
T. C. Morgan and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1249
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1249

Sheridan's Cavalry Condition Powder - for the Prevention and Cure Hog Cholera, Chicken Cholera, and Cattle Plague

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For the cure of diseases of horse, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For the cure of diseases of horse, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. This powder should be given in all cases of loss of appetite, roughness of hair, stoppage of bowels or water, coughs, colds, swelling of gland of throat, worms, horse-ail, hide-bound, hots and heaves. For the prevention and cure of cattle plague, in its various forms of southern cattle fever, anthrax, rinderpest, pleuro-pneumonia, etc., hog cholera, chicken cholera.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1885
maker
I. S. Johnson and Company
ID Number
MG.M-10768
catalog number
M-10768
accession number
256193

Dr. Kay's Lung Balm

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

Hydrozone - A Powerful Destroyer of Bacteria, Microbes and Germs in the Human System

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Treatment of catarrh, hay fever, diphtheria, croup quinsy, tonsilitis, sore throat, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, women's weaknessesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Treatment of catarrh, hay fever, diphtheria, croup quinsy, tonsilitis, sore throat, whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma, women's weaknesses
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908-1918
maker
Drevet Manufacturing Company
Marchand, Charles
ID Number
1984.0782.096
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.096

Taylor's Oil of Life - for Man or Beast

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For human flesh: cuts, burns, bruises, chilblains, frost bites, chapped hands, sore throat, diphtheria, rheumatism, piles, ear ache, etc.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For human flesh: cuts, burns, bruises, chilblains, frost bites, chapped hands, sore throat, diphtheria, rheumatism, piles, ear ache, etc. Internally: coughs, colds, croup, whooping cough, phthistic, asthma and kidney affections.
For horses: botts, belly ache, yellow water, coughs, colds, and horse distemper. Nothing like it for heaves and all sores, corks, galls and barbed wire fence cuts and flesh wounds of all kinds, and the scratches. For cattle: horn distemper, caked bags, cracked teats, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
G. C. Taylor Company
ID Number
1989.0711.57
catalog number
1989.0711.57
accession number
1989.0711

Rhodes' Lung Remedy

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:For the relief of tuberculosis and bronchial troubles, asthma, catarrah, chronic coughs, hay fever, whooping cough, flu, grip, coldsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:
For the relief of tuberculosis and bronchial troubles, asthma, catarrah, chronic coughs, hay fever, whooping cough, flu, grip, colds
Location
Currently not on view
maker
L.B. Rhodes & Son
ID Number
1978.0235.039
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.39

Baker Croup and Whooping Cough Syrup

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:For coughs, colds, sore throat, hoarseness, croup and whooping cough.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:
For coughs, colds, sore throat, hoarseness, croup and whooping cough.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
maker
Edwin Baker
ID Number
1978.0235.021
accession number
1978.0235
catalog number
1978.0235.021

Sajodin - for Treatment of tuberculosis and thyroid disease

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Sajodin is an iodine compound. It should be administred only under medical supervision in tuberculosis and thyroid diseaseCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Sajodin is an iodine compound. It should be administred only under medical supervision in tuberculosis and thyroid disease
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1944
maker
Winthrop Chemical Company
ID Number
2001.0314.572
accession number
2001.0314
catalog number
2001.0314.572

Moyer's Oil of Gladness

According to the product packaging, this product is indicated for:A Popular Remedy for Sore Throat, Coughs, Colds, Croup, Sprains, Wounds and Bruises, Neuralgia, Earache, Frosted Feet or Chilblain and Whooping Cough.Currently not on view
Description
According to the product packaging, this product is indicated for:
A Popular Remedy for Sore Throat, Coughs, Colds, Croup, Sprains, Wounds and Bruises, Neuralgia, Earache, Frosted Feet or Chilblain and Whooping Cough.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1905
maker
Keystone Drug Co.
ID Number
2004.0050.12
catalog number
2004.0050.12
accession number
2004.0050

Scientific Electric Fluid

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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