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 by the manufacturer are: For all pale and weak persons.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For all pale and weak persons. These great French pills are endorsed, prescribed and recommended by all the European and American hospitals for the postive cure of nervousness, dizziness and all blood impurities, giving strength and tone to the system in general.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1898
date made
1898-1906
1898 - 1906
ca 1898
maker
Pean Medical Company
ID Number
1984.0782.147
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.147
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: excellent tonic and blood purifierCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: excellent tonic and blood purifier
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
c. 1900
maker
Riopelle-Goodman, Louise
ID Number
1984.0782.170
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.170
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A tonic for elderly people, children, and weak women and during convalescence.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A tonic for elderly people, children, and weak women and during convalescence. General weakness, simple anemia, physical exhaustion, lack of animation, loss of appetite and in cases in which a good reconstructive tonic is needed.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1920
after 1906
distributor
Chester Kent and Company
ID Number
1984.0782.205
catalog number
1984.0782.205
accession number
1984.0782
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A mineral-water-soluble-vitamin dietary supplement and an aid to appetite appeasementCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A mineral-water-soluble-vitamin dietary supplement and an aid to appetite appeasement
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1950s
after 1953
retailer
Sherman Pharmacy
distributor
Tafon Distributors, Inc.
ID Number
1985.0460.100
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.100
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A gentle alterative tonic, digestive, and aperient for use in the treatment of skin and scalp affections and for promoting the general healthCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A gentle alterative tonic, digestive, and aperient for use in the treatment of skin and scalp affections and for promoting the general health
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1910
collection
Reid Drugstore
maker
Potter Drug and Chemical Corporation
ID Number
1984.0351.098
accession number
1984.0351
catalog number
1984.0351.098
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Associated Name
Sherman Pharmacy
maker
Armour and Company
ID Number
1985.0460.006
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.006
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An excellent tonic and good blood purifier.Currently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: An excellent tonic and good blood purifier.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1906-1908
maker
Riopelle-Goodman, Louise
ID Number
1984.0782.169
accession number
1984.0782
catalog number
1984.0782.169
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:A compound iron tonic to make redder bloodCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
A compound iron tonic to make redder blood
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1937
retailer
Sherman Pharmacy
maker
Carter Medicine Company
ID Number
1985.0460.017
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.017
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A GENTLE ALTERNATIVE TONIC DIGESTIVE AND APERIENTCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: A GENTLE ALTERNATIVE TONIC DIGESTIVE AND APERIENT
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1917
maker
Potter Drug and Chemical Corporation
ID Number
1985.0481.038
catalog number
1985.0481.038
accession number
1985.0481
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Internally a beneficial aid to the system; externally a counterirritant for the relief of muscular aches, pains and strainsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Internally a beneficial aid to the system; externally a counterirritant for the relief of muscular aches, pains and strains
Location
Currently not on view
Associated Name
Sherman Pharmacy
maker
Swanson Company
ID Number
1985.0460.045
accession number
1985.0460
catalog number
1985.0460.045
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:TonicCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Tonic
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1930
maker
Omin Products
E. M. Sekunna
ID Number
MG.293320.1271
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1271
[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 1882
maker
Wells, Richardson and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1331
catalog number
293320.1331
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:Relieves tired feeling and fatigueCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
Relieves tired feeling and fatigue
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1906-1938
maker
Griffin Drug Company
ID Number
MG.M-10426.05
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1906 - 1940
c. 1906 - 1940
maker
Dr. J. C. Ayer and Company
ID Number
MG.M-07225
catalog number
M-07225
accession number
220009
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:For indigestion, intermittent fevers, want of appetite, nervous prostration, fainting, lack of energy, malaria, heartburn, dyspeptic symptomsCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
For indigestion, intermittent fevers, want of appetite, nervous prostration, fainting, lack of energy, malaria, heartburn, dyspeptic symptoms
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
after 1908
maker
Brown's Iron Bitters Company
ID Number
MG.M-10426.47
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:For dyspepsia and stomach troublesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
For dyspepsia and stomach troubles
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1935
ID Number
MG.293320.1190
catalog number
293320.1190
accession number
293320
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:A food tonic; for indigestion and loss of appetite; to assist stomach to retain and digest food; enriches the blood and strengthens the systemCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
A food tonic; for indigestion and loss of appetite; to assist stomach to retain and digest food; enriches the blood and strengthens the system
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1908-1918
maker
King's Pure Malt Department
ID Number
MG.M-10767 [dup1]
catalog number
M-10767
accession number
256193
256193
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: General tonic; Blood and system builder; Loss of appetite, run down system, loss of flesh, rheumatism, syphilis and all blood troublesCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: General tonic; Blood and system builder; Loss of appetite, run down system, loss of flesh, rheumatism, syphilis and all blood troubles
Location
Currently not on view
maker
R. L. Lawless
ID Number
MG.274347.190
catalog number
274347.190
accession number
274347
catalog number
M-12141
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: General tonic and blood purifierCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: General tonic and blood purifier
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
After 1906
maker
Nature's Creation Company
ID Number
MG.274347.188
catalog number
274347.188
accession number
274347
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:An alterative and blood purifierCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
An alterative and blood purifier
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
after 1906
maker
Swaim's Laboratory
ID Number
MG.M-10426.25
catalog number
M-10426
accession number
246707
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
After 1906
maker
Bio Tech Products Company
ID Number
MG.274347.196
catalog number
274347.196
accession number
274347
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:Dyspeptic remedy and blood purifyer.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
Dyspeptic remedy and blood purifyer. A great tonic acting upon the stomach and liver correcting the secretions and providing a certain remedy for dyspepsia, liver compaints, biliousness, nervous debility, loss of appetite and all other diseases requiring a tonic.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1870-1885
maker
Dr. W. Sawens and Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1274
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1274
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:For Burning Bush (Euonymus atropurpureus) also known as Wahoo: It is tonic, laxative, alterative, diuretic and expectorant.
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer, or as found in contemporary medical literature, are:
For Burning Bush (Euonymus atropurpureus) also known as Wahoo: It is tonic, laxative, alterative, diuretic and expectorant. It is serviceable in dyspepsia, torpid liver, constipation, dropsy, and pulmonary diseases. In intermittents [fevers] it serves a good purpose. [source: The Complete Herbalist; Or, The People Their Own Physicians by Oliver Phelps Brown, 1885]
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1884-1920
maker
Jones and Primley Company
ID Number
MG.293320.1066
accession number
293320
catalog number
293320.1066
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For coughs, colds, catarrahal diseases and where a tonic is requiredCurrently not on view
Description
The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: For coughs, colds, catarrahal diseases and where a tonic is required
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1920
maker
Pe-Ru-Na Company, The
ID Number
MG.293320.1333
catalog number
293320.1333
accession number
293320

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.