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.

The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:A liver and kidney regulator; blood purifier.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
A liver and kidney regulator; blood purifier. For costiveness and constipation; all forms of liver and kidney complaints; Bright's Disease of the kidney; diabetes; catarrh of the bladder; gravel and stricture; malaria; sick, bilious or nervous headache; neuralgia; rheumatism; loss of sleep, appetite or energy; tired, weary feeling; melancholy; dry, hacking cough or not feeling well; more tired on rising in the morning than on retiring; irregularity of the bowels.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
Akerue Medicine Company
ID Number
MG.M-10413.13
catalog number
M-10413
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For painful urination, scanty or highly-colored urine, dropsy, general or local, diabetesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For painful urination, scanty or highly-colored urine, dropsy, general or local, diabetes
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1938
maker
Henry K. Wampole and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1270
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1270
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For incipient Bright's disease, chronic inflammation of the bladder, gravel, irritation of the kidneys, diabetes and nervous exhaustion.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For incipient Bright's disease, chronic inflammation of the bladder, gravel, irritation of the kidneys, diabetes and nervous exhaustion.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1906
maker
Foley and Company
ID Number
MG.M-09905.01
catalog number
M-09905
accession number
238503
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Diabetes cureCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Diabetes cure
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1906-1908
maker
Warner's Safe Cure Company
ID Number
MG.M-10767
catalog number
M-10767
accession number
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For kidney and bladder diseases and ailments arising from these causes.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For kidney and bladder diseases and ailments arising from these causes. Lumbago, weak-back, stone in the bladder, Bright's disease, diabetes, urinary troubles, gout, rheumatism, heart failure, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
retailer
Sherman Pharmacy
druggist
Doll, John
ID Number
1985.0460.038
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.038
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For Diabetes Mellitus or sugar in the urineCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For Diabetes Mellitus or sugar in the urine
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Warner's Safe Remedies Company
ID Number
2008.0062.24
accession number
2008.0062
catalog number
2008.0062.24
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For Diabetes Mellitus or sugar in the urineCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For Diabetes Mellitus or sugar in the urine
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
maker
Warner's Safe Remedies Company
ID Number
2008.0062.25
accession number
2008.0062
catalog number
2008.0062.25
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A specific for all kidney and blood diseases. Cures Bright's disease, diabetes, bladder troubles, cystitis, nephritis, sleeplessness, nervousness, and congestion of the kidneys.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A specific for all kidney and blood diseases. Cures Bright's disease, diabetes, bladder troubles, cystitis, nephritis, sleeplessness, nervousness, and congestion of the kidneys. As healthy kidneys make pure blood, they will also cure blood troubles, such as: gout, rheumatism, sallow complexion, anaemia, chlorosis, nervous headache, dizziness, hysteria, neuralgia, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1898-1901
maker
Sterling Remedy Company
ID Number
2008.0062.02
accession number
2008.0062
catalog number
2008.0062.02
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:A cure for gravel, Bright's disease, diabetes, dropsy and all diseases of the kidneys and bladder. Cures rheumatism, neuralgia, dyspepsia, eczema, malarial poisoning, gout, etc.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
A cure for gravel, Bright's disease, diabetes, dropsy and all diseases of the kidneys and bladder. Cures rheumatism, neuralgia, dyspepsia, eczema, malarial poisoning, gout, etc.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1900
maker
Takoma Park Springs Company
ID Number
1989.0711.55
catalog number
1989.0711.55
accession number
1989.0711

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.