Health & Medicine
The Museum's collections of medical science artifacts represent nearly all aspects of health and medical practice. Highlights include early X-ray apparatuses, such as one of Wilhelm Roentgen's tubes, penicillin mold from Alexander Fleming’s experiments, and Jonas Salk's original polio vaccine. More recent acquisitions include the first artificial heart implanted in a human, the earliest genetically engineered drugs, and materials related to David, the "Bubble Boy." Other artifacts range from artificial limbs and implant devices to bloodletting and dental instruments, beauty products, and veterinary equipment. The contents of a medieval apothecary shop and an 1890s drugstore form part of the collections, along with patent and alternative medicines. The collections also document the many differing perspectives on health and medical issues, from patients, family members, doctors, nurses, medical students, and out-of-the-mainstream health practitioners.
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Ben Hur Powder, Naturelle Flesh
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1930
- brand launched (Ben Hur)
- 1904
- maker
- Andrew Jergens Company
- ID Number
- 1988.3089.171
- catalog number
- 1988.3089.171
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3089
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Zonitors Antiseptic Vaginal Suppositories
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are:
- vaginal suppositories - for use as a vaginal antiseptic, for daintiness.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Chemway Corporation
- ID Number
- 2002.0136.038
- accession number
- 2002.0136
- catalog number
- 2002.0136.038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Super Wernet's Denture Adhesive Powder, Extra Strength
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Block Drug Company, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2002.0136.057
- accession number
- 2002.0136
- catalog number
- 2002.0136.057
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Listerex Antibacterial Scrub Cleansing Gel
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Warner-Lambert Co.
- ID Number
- 2002.0136.078
- accession number
- 2002.0136
- catalog number
- 2002.0136.078
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Norinyl 1+35 Oral Contraceptives
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Syntex Corporation of Humacoa, Puerto Rico, manufactured this Norinyl 1+35 brand oral contraceptive around 1984. The silver blister pack is contained inside a plastic compact case. The compact case features a cameo image of a woman’s profile. The 28-pill monthly dosage was arranged in four weekly rows of 7 pills, numbered from 1 to 28. The first 21 hormonal pills are green, and the last 7 inert pills are orange. The compact contains a small insert describing usage and warnings against smoking while taking oral contraceptives.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1984
- maker
- Syntex F.P. Inc.
- ID Number
- 2002.0136.090
- accession number
- 2002.0136
- catalog number
- 2002.0136.090
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Sun Blocking Lotion SPF 15
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0136.154
- accession number
- 2002.0136
- catalog number
- 2002.0136.154
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Original Palmer's Skin-Success Ointment
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2002.0136.155
- accession number
- 2002.0136
- catalog number
- 2002.0136.155
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Eberly's Sanitary Rosafoam
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- J.A. Eberly
- ID Number
- 2002.0138.089
- accession number
- 2002.0138
- catalog number
- 2002.0138.089
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Crazy Foam - the Toy that Cleans - Clown
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1965
- maker
- Aerosol Corporation of America
- ID Number
- 1993.0024.14
- catalog number
- 1993.0024.14
- accession number
- 1993.0024
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Check-Up Gingival Toothpaste and Sugarless Fresh Ice Mint Gum Plaque-Fighting Gum
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1993.0107.194
- catalog number
- 1993.0107.194
- accession number
- 1993.0107
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Tiger Balm
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1988
- ID Number
- 1989.0196.032
- catalog number
- 1989.0196.032
- accession number
- 1989.0196
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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leg, prosthetic
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 1979.0648.34
- accession number
- 1979.0648
- catalog number
- 1979.0648.34
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Cascarets Candy Cathartic
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided by the manufacturer are: Laxative for constipation.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca 1925
- maker
- Sterling Products
- ID Number
- 1979.0798.174
- accession number
- 1979.0798
- catalog number
- 1979.0798.174
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Bleeding Bowl
- Description
- Basin porringer-type bowl with molded rim, slightly rounded and tapered sides, and flat bottom incised near perimeter; interior marked at seven graduated intervals, each line stamped incuse with an even number from "2" to "16". Cast Old English-type handle is pierced with 8 voids and struck once on top with tombstone-shape, crowned book- or Bible-between-pillars touchmark of John Foster.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- after 1740
- ca 1750
- ID Number
- DL.388318
- catalog number
- 388318
- accession number
- 182022
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Cybersonic, The Sonic Plaque Disintegrator
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- American Dentronics Incorporated
- ID Number
- 1997.0370.01
- accession number
- 1997.0370
- catalog number
- 1997.0370.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Modess Because Sanitary Napkins Vending Machine
- Description
- Sanitary napkin vending machine: The tall rectangular box is constructed of ferrous metal and is painted beige. There are also some remnants of pink paint, probably from painting adjacent walls. The front door has three hinges on the proper left edge. The dispensing mechanism on the front is chromed ferrous metal and the lock is also ferrous metal. The dispenser required the insertion of one dime and the instructions appear under the coin slot: "Insert Coin Above / Turn Handle / To The Right / If Coin Returns / Insert Again Or / Try Another Coin." There is a blue company name plate attached to front on the upper part of the machine which reads: "Modess / because / Modess Sanitary Napkins Distributed by Rochester Germicide Co. / Rochester New York". The back panel is perforated with holes including two larger ones at the top for hanging the machine.
- The "Modess ... because" advertising campaign by the New York marketing firm Young & Rubicam ran from the late 1940s to the 1970s.
- date made
- ca 1960s
- maker
- Rochester Germicide Company
- ID Number
- 1989.0416.013
- catalog number
- 1989.0416.013
- accession number
- 1989.0416
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Crazy Bubbles - Bubble Blowing Bubble Bath - Blue Seahorse
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1966
- maker
- Aerosol Corporation of America
- ID Number
- 1993.0024.15
- catalog number
- 1993.0024.15
- accession number
- 1993.0024
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Beijing Pharmaceutical Oral Contraceptive Compound Norgestrol Pill - A Short-Acting Contaceptive Pill
- Description (Brief)
- The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.
- The Beijing Pharmaceutical Factory in Beijing, China, produced these oral contraceptive pills around 1985. This box contains 50 bottles, with each bottle containing 22 pills. Manufacturers used 22 pill regimens in the belief that patient reliability was improved if each new cycle of tablets could begin and end on the same fixed day of the week. The box describes these as polypharmacy norgestrel pills, a combination of .3 mg of norgestrel with .03 mg of ethinyl estradiol. The label bears the crane logo of the manufacturer, and the blue stamped numbers to the crane’s left are the government approval marking.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1988
- ID Number
- 1989.0196.214
- catalog number
- 1989.0196.214
- accession number
- 1989.0196
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Max Factor Pure Magic Super Eyelashes, Sweepy Peekers, Natural Brown
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Max Factor and Company
- ID Number
- 1993.0384.002
- catalog number
- 1993.0384.002
- accession number
- 1993.0384
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Lady Wildroot Shampoo
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1950
- maker
- Wildroot Company
- ID Number
- 1988.3089.206
- catalog number
- 1988.3089.206
- nonaccession number
- 1988.3089
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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