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 4,455 Filter by term Exclude term
Drugs 942 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 692 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicines; Drugs; Liquid 552 Filter by term Exclude term
?; Patent Medicines; Drugs 181 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicines; Drugs 123 Filter by term Exclude term
otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 100 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
Pharmaceuticals; Drugs; Non-Liquid 33 Filter by term Exclude term
Seidlitz Powders; Pharmaceuticals; Drugs; Non-Liquid 31 Filter by term Exclude term
otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Liquid 30 Filter by term Exclude term
Aspirin; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 29 Filter by term Exclude term
Patent Medicine 20 Filter by term Exclude term
Aspirin 18 Filter by term Exclude term
Bottle, Medicine 18 Filter by term Exclude term
Seidlitz Powders; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid 18 Filter by term Exclude term
Bottle, OTC Preparation 14 Filter by term Exclude term
otc preparation; Drugs 13 Filter by term Exclude term
Drugs; Non-Liquid 12 Filter by term Exclude term
Pharmaceutical; Drugs 11 Filter by term Exclude term
Bottle; Containers 10 Filter by term Exclude term
veterinary product 10 Filter by term Exclude term
?; otc preparation; Patent Medicines; Drugs 9 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
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 4,483 Filter by term Exclude term
Health & Medicine 1,028 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Health 167 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 56 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
American Enterprise 21 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: Oral Care 12 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Feminine Care 10 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
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
Antibody Initiative: Veterinary Vaccines and Serums 1 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Alleviating Odor 1 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Hygiene Products: Babies 1 Filter by term Exclude term

Health & Medicine 1,028 Filter by term Exclude term
Laxatives 651 Filter by term Exclude term
Catarrh, Cough & Cold Drugs 525 Filter by term Exclude term
Indigestion & Nausea Drugs 373 Filter by term Exclude term
Pain & Neuralgia Drugs 287 Filter by term Exclude term
Blood & Liver Drugs 252 Filter by term Exclude term
Respiratory & Asthma Drugs 240 Filter by term Exclude term
Rubs, Liniments & Ointments 235 Filter by term Exclude term
Rheumatism & Arthritis Drugs 193 Filter by term Exclude term
G.E. Damon Collection 170 Filter by term Exclude term
Beauty and Health 167 Filter by term Exclude term
Bitters 141 Filter by term Exclude term
Women's Health Products 140 Filter by term Exclude term
Nerve & Brain Drugs 132 Filter by term Exclude term
Tonics, Minerals & Vitamins 124 Filter by term Exclude term
First Aid Products & Antiseptics 120 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
Skin & Dermatology Drugs 106 Filter by term Exclude term
Fever & Chill Drugs 105 Filter by term Exclude term
Reid Pharmacy, Clifton, Illinois 98 Filter by term Exclude term
Sterling Drug Collection 92 Filter by term Exclude term
Menstruation: Symptom Relief 83 Filter by term Exclude term
Infant & Children's Products - Pediatrics 68 Filter by term Exclude term
Sherman Pharmacy, Sherman, New York 56 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

Foley's Cream

National Museum of American History
Dr. H. D. Whitlock's Cathartic Granules

National Museum of American History
Eckman's Alterative

National Museum of American History
Allen's Lung Balsam

National Museum of American History
Fleet Phospho-soda

National Museum of American History
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

National Museum of American History
Thialion

National Museum of American History
Lydia E. Pinkham's Sanative Wash

National Museum of American History
Lactopeptine

National Museum of American History
Prof Anderson's Dermador

National Museum of American History
Rexall Seidlitz Powders

National Museum of American History
Foley Family Pills for Constipation

National Museum of American History
Unguentine Ointment, Original Formula, 1 Oz

National Museum of American History
Ayre's Diarrhoea Cure

National Museum of American History
Dillard's Aspergum

National Museum of American History
Dr. Hooper's Green Seal Pills

National Museum of American History
Uncle Ben Jo's Bell Tongue Syrup

National Museum of American History
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy

National Museum of American History
Bayer Aspirin

National Museum of American History
Eau Minerate Naturelle Purgative De Rubinat Cordal

National Museum of American History
Hematonic

National Museum of American History
Dr. Petzold's Genuine German Bitters

National Museum of American History
Cas-Grada Pills

National Museum of American History
Hollis' Jaundice Bitters

National Museum of American History
Betalax, Milk of Magnesia

National Museum of American History
Dioxol Tablets

National Museum of American History
Betalax

National Museum of American History
Vasco Powder Shampoo

National Museum of American History
Week's Kidney Pills

National Museum of American History
Ballard's Horehound Syrup

National Museum of American History
Syrup of Glaxseed, Licorice, Wild Cherry and Menthol Compound, Creossoted

National Museum of American History
Davis & Lawrence Laxative la Grippe Tablets

National Museum of American History
BiSoDoL Mints

National Museum of American History
Respamol

National Museum of American History
Liquorice & Menthol Pellets

National Museum of American History

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