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.

Browse
Browse the collection by therapeutic category. You can also use the keyword search (at right) which searches all fields of information.

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

Brown and gold-colored tin with hinged lid and decorative motif on sides and borders. Tin is empty. Original contents: one grain capsules of Glycogen. Probably imported from France by E.
Description
Brown and gold-colored tin with hinged lid and decorative motif on sides and borders. Tin is empty. Original contents: one grain capsules of Glycogen. Probably imported from France by E. Fougera and Company of New York.
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: In tuberculosis, typhoid fever, scarlatina, furunculosis [infection of the hair follicle], diphtheria, influenza, in neurasthenic conditions, weak heart, migraine, morphinism, tobaccoism, etc.
Antitoxic and distinctly bactericidal, stimulating the natural resistance of the organism to pathogenic invasions.
In the early 1900s, French doctor, Jacques de Nittis, introduced the therapeutic use of glycogen, a naturally occuring substance which stores carbohydrates in the body. The substance was thought to help increase the production of white blood cells and thus help the body fight off infection. It was also employed in wasting conditions such as those brought on by cancer, tuberculosis, and diabetes, to help rebuild strenghth and weight.
SEE: de Nittis, Jacques, "Glycogen, A Therapeutic Aid (Translated from the Tribune Medicale, April 2, 1904.)" in Southern Medicine, Volume 11, No. 3, September, 1904, pp 11-12.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1905
maker
E. Fougera and Company
ID Number
2019.0068.01
catalog number
2019.0068.01
accession number
2019.0068
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.M-06892.07
catalog number
M-06892.07
accession number
210760
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.M-06892.11
catalog number
M-06892.11
accession number
210760
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1955-1960
maker
Cot-N-Chips Company
ID Number
1985.0481.036
catalog number
1985.0481.36
accession number
1985.0481
1985.0481
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Healing, soothing, cooling, non-irritating and cleansing for the eyesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Healing, soothing, cooling, non-irritating and cleansing for the eyes
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
Valma's Drug Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1185
catalog number
293320.1185
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Kiehl's Inc.
ID Number
1981.0589.033
accession number
1981.0589
catalog number
1981.0589.033
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.M-06892.05
catalog number
M-06892.05
accession number
210760
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.M-06892.04
catalog number
M-06892.04
accession number
210760
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0481.341
catalog number
1985.0481.341
accession number
1985.0481
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
E.W. Rose Co.
ID Number
MG.M-10446.02
catalog number
M-10446
accession number
251551
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.M-06892.03
catalog number
M-06892.03
accession number
210760
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Bickmore Company
ID Number
1985.0481.020
catalog number
1985.0481.020
accession number
1985.0481
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
distributor
Procter & Gamble Company
maker
Procter & Gamble Company
ID Number
1998.0102.24
catalog number
1998.0102.24
accession number
1998.0102
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1956
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.M-06892.06
catalog number
M-06892.06
accession number
210760
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Eng Aun Tong Tiger Medical Hall Rangoon
ID Number
MG.293320.1515
catalog number
293320.1515
accession number
293320
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Chesebrough Manufacturing Company
ID Number
1980.0317.08
accession number
1980.0317
catalog number
1980.0317.08
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Blood purifier. For pimples, blotches, &c. Being vegetable, it can be taken safely at any season. It has no equal as a general tonic and appetizer.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Blood purifier. For pimples, blotches, &c. Being vegetable, it can be taken safely at any season. It has no equal as a general tonic and appetizer.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1906
ID Number
1979.0798.130
accession number
1979.0798
catalog number
1979.0798.130
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]Currently not on view
Description
[No indications or uses for this product are provided on its packaging.]
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1868
Associated Name
Brandreth Pill Works
maker
Brandreth Pill Works
ID Number
MG.293320.1161
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1161
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For chapped hands & lips, sun & wind burn, rough skinCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For chapped hands & lips, sun & wind burn, rough skin
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1950
maker
Purepac Company
ID Number
2008.0018.157
catalog number
2008.0018.157
accession number
2008.0018
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1985.0481.047
catalog number
1985.0481.047
accession number
1985.0481
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Makes lips and skin like velvet, also cuts, burns, bruises, chilblains, eczema and all skin diseasesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Makes lips and skin like velvet, also cuts, burns, bruises, chilblains, eczema and all skin diseases
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s
maker
Dr. Shoop Laboratories
ID Number
2012.0165.003
catalog number
2012.0165.003
accession number
2012.0165
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1979.1144.093
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.093
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
1998.0102.23
catalog number
1998.0102.23
accession number
1998.0102
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2017.0184.047
accession number
2017.0184
catalog number
2017.0184.047

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.