Balm of America: Patent Medicine Collection

American History Museum

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.

Medicine 4,268 Filter by term Exclude term
Drugs 971 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 681 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicines; Drugs; Liquid 545 Filter by term Exclude term
?; Patent Medicines; Drugs 181 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicines; Drugs 118 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicines; Non-Liquid 81 Filter by term Exclude term
Bottles 73 Filter by term Exclude term
Pharmaceutical 66 Filter by term Exclude term
pharmaceutical 52 Filter by term Exclude term
Bottle, Medicine 39 Filter by term Exclude term
Pharmaceuticals; Drugs; Non-Liquid 33 Filter by term Exclude term
Seidlitz Powders; Pharmaceuticals; Drugs; Non-Liquid 31 Filter by term Exclude term
Aspirin; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 27 Filter by term Exclude term
otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 26 Filter by term Exclude term
otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Liquid 23 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicine 21 Filter by term Exclude term
Aspirin 18 Filter by term Exclude term
Seidlitz Powders; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 18 Filter by term Exclude term
Bottle, OTC Preparation 15 Filter by term Exclude term
otc preparation; Drugs 12 Filter by term Exclude term
Bottle; Containers 11 Filter by term Exclude term
Pharmaceutical; Drugs 11 Filter by term Exclude term
Drugs; Non-Liquid 10 Filter by term Exclude term
veterinary product 10 Filter by term Exclude term
Cod Liver Oil 9 Filter by term Exclude term
Laxative; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 9 Filter by term Exclude term
?; Aspirin; Drugs 8 Filter by term Exclude term
?; otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs 8 Filter by term Exclude term
Nutritional Product 8 Filter by term Exclude term
Pharmaceuticals; Drugs; Liquid 8 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicine, Bottle of; Pharmaceutical; Liquid 7 Filter by term Exclude term
Pharmaceutical; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 7 Filter by term Exclude term
Aspirin; Aspirin; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 6 Filter by term Exclude term
Boxes (containers) 6 Filter by term Exclude term

Balm of America 4,295 Filter by term Exclude term
Medicine and Science: Medicine 4,246 Filter by term Exclude term
Health & Medicine 1,041 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Health 166 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Cure-alls 113 Filter by term Exclude term
Reid Pharmacy, Clifton, Illinois 98 Filter by term Exclude term
Menstruation: Symptom Relief 83 Filter by term Exclude term
Sherman Pharmacy, Sherman, New York 57 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Feet 30 Filter by term Exclude term
National Museum of American History 25 Filter by term Exclude term
Botanical Medicine 23 Filter by term Exclude term
Medicine and Science: Pharmacy 23 Filter by term Exclude term
American Enterprise 22 Filter by term Exclude term
Work and Industry: Agriculture and Natural Resources 22 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Skin 18 Filter by term Exclude term
The Antibody Initiative 18 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Feminine Care 10 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Oral Care 9 Filter by term Exclude term
Diabetes 9 Filter by term Exclude term
M*A*S*H Television Series 9 Filter by term Exclude term
Antibody Initiative: Influenza 6 Filter by term Exclude term
Antibody Initiative: Diphtheria 5 Filter by term Exclude term
Antibody Initiative: New York City Public Health Collections 3 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Hair Care and Enhancement 3 Filter by term Exclude term
Cancer 3 Filter by term Exclude term
Cancer: Treatment 3 Filter by term Exclude term
Object Project 3 Filter by term Exclude term
Advertising 2 Filter by term Exclude term
Antibody Initiative: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella 2 Filter by term Exclude term
Antibody Initiative: Tuberculosis 2 Filter by term Exclude term
Antibody Initiative: Whooping Cough 2 Filter by term Exclude term
Division of Science, Medicine and Society: Medical Sciences 2 Filter by term Exclude term
First Do No Harm 2 Filter by term Exclude term
Menstruation: Odor 2 Filter by term Exclude term
Antibody Initiative: Infectious Disease, Allergy, and Immunotherapy Collections 1 Filter by term Exclude term

Health & Medicine 1,041 Filter by term Exclude term
Laxatives 649 Filter by term Exclude term
Catarrh, Cough & Cold Drugs 531 Filter by term Exclude term
Indigestion & Nausea Drugs 377 Filter by term Exclude term
Pain & Neuralgia Drugs 288 Filter by term Exclude term
Blood & Liver Drugs 252 Filter by term Exclude term
Respiratory & Asthma Drugs 238 Filter by term Exclude term
Rubs, Liniments & Ointments 238 Filter by term Exclude term
Rheumatism & Arthritis Drugs 192 Filter by term Exclude term
G.E. Damon Collection 169 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Health 166 Filter by term Exclude term
Women's Health Products 138 Filter by term Exclude term
Nerve & Brain Drugs 134 Filter by term Exclude term
Tonics, Minerals & Vitamins 129 Filter by term Exclude term
First Aid Products & Antiseptics 122 Filter by term Exclude term
Kidney & Urinary Drugs 114 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Cure-alls 113 Filter by term Exclude term
Fever & Chill Drugs 105 Filter by term Exclude term
Skin & Dermatology Drugs 105 Filter by term Exclude term
Reid Pharmacy, Clifton, Illinois 98 Filter by term Exclude term
Menstruation: Symptom Relief 83 Filter by term Exclude term
Bitters 74 Filter by term Exclude term
Infant & Children's Products - Pediatrics 69 Filter by term Exclude term
Sherman Pharmacy, Sherman, New York 57 Filter by term Exclude term
Drugs 52 Filter by term Exclude term
Foot Products 42 Filter by term Exclude term
Georgetown Pharmacy 39 Filter by term Exclude term
Vermifuges & Parasiticides 35 Filter by term Exclude term
Women's Health 35 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Feet 30 Filter by term Exclude term
STD Drugs 29 Filter by term Exclude term
Foreign & Imported Products 25 Filter by term Exclude term
Veterinary Products 25 Filter by term Exclude term
Botanical Medicine 23 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Skin 18 Filter by term Exclude term

Fournet's A Stimulant Diuretic for the Kidneys

National Museum of American History
Romind

National Museum of American History
Dr. Millican's Excema and Tetter Salve

National Museum of American History
Grandma's Medicinal Herbs for Making Tea

National Museum of American History
Somnesia

National Museum of American History
Nosik Travel Gum

National Museum of American History
Compoz

National Museum of American History
Menstra-Eze

National Museum of American History
Cheracol D, cough syrup

National Museum of American History
Panodynes

National Museum of American History
Thermaline

National Museum of American History
Dr. Hubbard's Vegetable Germicide

National Museum of American History
A Plus With Neurylan

National Museum of American History
Novahistine Elixir, Cold & Hay Fever Formula

National Museum of American History
Kennedy's Laxative Cough Syrup

National Museum of American History
Syrup of Tar with Extract of Cod Liver and Menthol

National Museum of American History
D & H Little Liver Pills

National Museum of American History
Superior Paste Blacking

National Museum of American History
Dr. Swayne's Pills

National Museum of American History
Aseptinol Compound

National Museum of American History
Kodol Dyspepsia Cure

National Museum of American History
Coryban-D Cold Capsules, 24 Capsules

National Museum of American History
E.H.T. Ointment

National Museum of American History
St. Patrick's Pills

National Museum of American History
Hot Springs Liver Buttons

National Museum of American History
Ramon's Laxative Cold Tablets, Free Sample

National Museum of American History
Dr. Morse's Indian Root Pills

National Museum of American History
Chininum Sulfuricum,Tablets

National Museum of American History
Foley Cathartic Tablets

National Museum of American History
Benadryl Complete Allergy Medicine Antihistamine 24 Capsules

National Museum of American History
Gray's Compound

National Museum of American History
Dr. Caldwell's Improved Prescription Powders

National Museum of American History
Mrs. Winslow's Syrup

National Museum of American History
Laroche's Superior Seidlitz Powders

National Museum of American History
Hill's Cold Tablets

National Museum of American History

Explore

Explore