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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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.

Search term: *:* Set Name: Balm of America Museum / Unit: NMAH Museum / Unit: NMAH-AF Museum / Unit: NMAHLC YT Museum / Unit: NMAH BL Museum / Unit: NMAH YT Museum / Unit: ACAH Date: 1920s Clear All

Turlington's Balsam of Life

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1870-1920
ID Number
1982.0513.02
accession number
1982.0513
catalog number
1982.0513.02

Mu-Col

Date made
1923
ID Number
MG.M-10167
catalog number
M-10167
accession number
238391

Mu-Col

Date made
1923
ID Number
MG.M-10168
catalog number
M-10168
accession number
238391

Pepto-Bismol Mixture Cholera Infantum

Date made
1925
maker
Norwich Pharmacal Company
ID Number
1986.0198.060
accession number
1986.0198

Bon-Opto

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

Alka-Zane Antacid-Diuretic

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 1920s
maker
William R. Warner and Company
ID Number
1981.0227.236
accession number
1981.0227
catalog number
1981.0227.236

Radway's Regulators

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1921
maker
Radway & Company Inc.
ID Number
MG.302607.173
catalog number
302607.173
accession number
302607

Dr. Hobson's Headache Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920s
maker
Pfeiffer Chemical Company
ID Number
1979.1144.068
accession number
1979.1144
catalog number
1979.1144.068

Artificial Kissingen Salt, N.F.V., Granular Effervescent, 4 Ounces

One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sh
Description
One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sharp & Dohme provided 23 specimens of potassium preparations and 18 specimens of an iron preparations.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1927
maker
Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
MG.M-02323
catalog number
M-02323
accession number
99602

DeWitt's Little Early Risers

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1938
circa 1920
maker
E. C. DeWitt and Company
ID Number
2008.0018.024
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.024

Dr. Jacob Becker's Eye Balsam

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1923
maker
Ollife, W. M.
user
Lawson, Jr., Albert Vanderbilt
ID Number
1999.0037.01
catalog number
1999.0037.01
accession number
1999.0037

Husky with Malt

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A tonic appetizer and activant, a reconstructive tonic, appetizer, system purifier and activantCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A tonic appetizer and activant, a reconstructive tonic, appetizer, system purifier and activant
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1929
maker
International Products Company
ID Number
2012.0165.009
catalog number
2012.0165.009
accession number
2012.0165

San-Tox Adjusters

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920-1940
ca 1920
maker
De Pree Company
ID Number
2008.0018.173
accession number
2008.0018
catalog number
2008.0018.173

Dr. Shoop's Green Salve (lid)

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

Pronto Headache Powders

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
unknown
ID Number
1979.1144.071.B
catalog number
1979.1144.071
accession number
1979.1144

Dr. A.W. Chase's Kidney-Liver Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: purgative...regulator of liver, kidneys and bowelsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: purgative...regulator of liver, kidneys and bowels
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1927
maker
Dr. A. W. Chase Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.0018.032
catalog number
2008.0018.032
accession number
2008.0018

Hood's Vegetable Pills

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, catharticCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: laxative, cathartic
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920s
maker
C. I. Hood Company
ID Number
2008.0018.066
catalog number
2008.0018.066
accession number
2008.0018

Klok-Lax

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1926
maker
S. S. S. Company
ID Number
1988.3089.053
catalog number
1988.3089.053
nonaccession number
1988.3089

Seidlitz Powders, Six

One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sh
Description
One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sharp & Dohme provided 23 specimens of potassium preparations and 18 specimens of an iron preparations.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1927
maker
Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
MG.M-02320
catalog number
M-02320
accession number
99602

Artificial Vichy Salt, N.F.V., Granular Effervescent, 4 Ounces

One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sh
Description
One of 41 specimens donated to the museum in 1927 by Sharp & Dohme for an exhibition "telling the story of the collection, marketing, and medicinal use of well-known and extensively used drugs." The curator requested examples of official preparations of iron and potassium, and Sharp & Dohme provided 23 specimens of potassium preparations and 18 specimens of an iron preparations.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1927
maker
Sharp and Dohme
ID Number
MG.M-02324
catalog number
M-02324
accession number
99602

Dr. A.W. Chase's Catarrh Powder

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1928
maker
Dr. A. W. Chase Medicine Company
ID Number
2008.0018.031
catalog number
2008.0018.031
accession number
2008.0018

San-Tox Nurse Brand Compound Licorice Powder

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: an agreeable laxativeCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: an agreeable laxative
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
De Pree Company
ID Number
2008.0018.175
catalog number
2008.0018.175
accession number
2008.0018

Phenolax Wafers (Upjohn)

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
product launched
1909
maker
Upjohn Company
ID Number
1981.0895.013
catalog number
1981.0895.013
accession number
1981.0895

St. Joseph Genuine Pure Aspirin, 36 5-Grain Tablets

The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A palliative aid in relief of simple headache, common colds, simple neuralgia, muscular achesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A palliative aid in relief of simple headache, common colds, simple neuralgia, muscular aches
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1929
maker
Plough, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0165.015
catalog number
2012.0165.015
accession number
2012.0165

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