DISCLAMER: This post contains images of historical surgical instruments, anatomical specimens, birth/labor references etc. For those who are sensitive on such matter I would advise to skip this post.
I must admit that I was not expecting my post about the Medicine Zurich museum will be so well received! I am really glad I can share with those pictures with you. Hope you will find this next portion of pictures as intriguing as first one.
Medical exhibitions usually have as many opponents as they have supporters.
A good example of this fact, are the exhibitions of the (in)famous Gunther von Hagens, actually Gunther Liebchen (born in 1945) a German physician, pathomorphologist and anatomist, who after many experiments and tests invented the technique of plastination.
Plastination, from the Greek plassein - to form, to create, to mould - is the laborious process of removing water and fats from the body's tissues (which cause the body to rot and decompose) and saturating them with synthetic substances (usually silicones, epoxy resins and polyester resins).
This technique stops the natural decomposition process of the tissues, while their natural colour and shape are preserved. Today, plastination is mainly used for creating anatomical models for medical students, but also in arts - such as the exhibitions of the meantioned before - Gunther vor Hagens - Body Worlds. You have probably heard about the controversy surrounding these exhibitions. It was alleged that, not only the bodies of voluntary donors were used, but also those of prisoners without their prior consent. In fact he returned some of the bodies (link to the article below)
The technique itself was invented in 1977, so you may ask - how were anatomical preparations done before then? Of course, formaldehyde (commonly known as formalin) was used, but the remains were also preserved by... drying them. I have added some photos of such a 'mummy'. I have to admit that looking at these "exhibits" I am no longer surprised, why the medical arts, not that long ago, could be still called almost backward.
Medicine and anatomy knowledge with all the materials(books, pictures, 3D and the actual models) available today, is extremely difficult to acquire and requires a great deal of dedication. But imagine a time, when there was almost no such thing! The saying 'learning on the job' takes on a really dark turn here.
In addition to medical specimens and instruments, you will find learning materials, anatomical models, microscopes, as well as prostheses, corrective corsets(brace), suction cups and ear trumpets - the ancestor of today's hearing aids. Until now, I only associate such a trumpet with one of my favorite character from the popular TV series 'Allo, Allo' Madame Fanny.
Hope it will be interesting journey as it was for me. I have added descriptions to exhibits, whose purpose may not be apparent at first glance, hope it will help. If I missed something, or you find something unclear, please let me know.
I wish you all a great weekend,
yours
Strega Azure
Medical Suction Cups(glass, copper)
Medical Suction Cups(glass, copper)
Medical Suction Cups(glass, copper)
Medical Suction Cups(rubber)
Hearing aid - Trumpets
Stabilised drill for cranial trepanation
Medical Hand Saw
Amputation knives and saws
Burner for the disinfection of surgical instruments(small pot on the side)
Types of surgical stitches demonstrated on a piece of linen cloth
Set of surgical needles
Blood transfusion instruments
Blood transfusion instruments
Blood transfusion instruments
A pouch and doll imitating a uterus and a baby, to teach obstetricians
A pouch and doll imitating a uterus and a baby, to teach obstetricians
Obstetric forceps - scary enough they look nearly the same way today
Gynaecological instruments
Circle of life - in and out!
Materials I used for fact checking for the article:
controversy around alleged stolen bodies
how plastination technique developed over the years
informations about plastination by von Hagens
Pictures are my authorship if not stated otherwise, all rights reserved @strega.azure ©
