History Of Medicine Collection

Medieval urine wheel. Labelled in Latin, this 15th century diagram shows some of the possible colours of urine (outer edge of circle) to help doctors diagnose urine-related diseases

Plague doctor, 17th century artwork
Plague doctor. 17th century artwork titled Doktor Schnabel von Rom (Beak Doctor from Rome). The text is in Latin. The costumes bronze mask contained aromatic herbs and reduced exposure to bad air

Trepanation, 14th century artwork
Trepanation. 14th century artwork of a doctor using a hammer and scalpel to perform a surgical operation known as trepanation

The four humours, 16th century artwork
The four humours, coloured historical artwork. Here, the head of Christ is surrounded by four male figures, who are personifications of the four humours

Barber-surgeons, satirical artwork
Barber-surgeons. Satirical artwork depicting barber-surgeons and their patients as monkeys. At bottom, the barber role is being performed, while at top the surgical and medical roles are shown

Medical zodiac, 15th century diagram
Medical zodiac. 15th century diagram with Latin text illustrating how the human body relates to the zodiac signs. Such information was used in medical practices, such as bloodletting

Plague doctor, France, 18th century
Plague doctor. Artwork of the clothing used by doctors during plague outbreaks. This design, though in use much earlier, is from The Great Plague of Marseilles, France, in 1720

Medical prescription, satirical artwork
Medical prescription. Satirical artwork titled Of Prescribing Foolishly, showing a patient in bed with a doctor in a fools hat (right) holding aloft a proposed treatment

Louis Pasteur. Artist: Edelfelt, Albert Gustaf Aristides (1854-1905)
Louis Pasteur. Found in the collection of Musee d Orsay, Paris

The Research. Artist: Sorolla y Bastida, Joaquin (1863-1923)
The Research. Found in the collection of Museo Sorolla, Madrid

Black Death rat flea, artwork
Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis), artwork. This flea was the primary vector of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which caused the Black Death

Treating foot corns, satirical artwork

Animal magnetism, satirical artwork
Animal magnetism. Satirical artwork depicting a patient and animal magnetism practitioner with animal heads. Animal magnetism was developed by the German physician Franz Mesmer (1734-1815)

Dentistry, satirical artwork
Dentistry. Satirical artwork titled Without Effort, showing a dentist and his assistant removing a patients tooth in a public display area

Page from The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī aṭ-Ṭibb) by Avicenna
2625243 Page from The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī aṭ-Ṭibb) by Avicenna by Iranian School (15th Century); (add.info.: Probably Iran, beginning of 15th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Page from The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī aṭ-Ṭibb) by Avicenna
2625215 Page from The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī aṭ-Ṭibb) by Avicenna by Iranian School (15th Century); (add.info.: Probably Iran, beginning of 15th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Page from The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī aṭ-Ṭibb) by Avicenna
2625216 Page from The Canon of Medicine (al-Qānūn fī aṭ-Ṭibb) by Avicenna by Iranian School (15th Century); (add.info.: Probably Iran, beginning of 15th century.); Universal History Archive/UIG

The Tooth Puller. Artist: Honthorst, Gerrit, van (1590-1656)
The Tooth Puller. Found in the collection of Louvre, Paris

Anatomical illustration
2626634 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

Andreas Vesalius
3586029 Andreas Vesalius by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Portrait of Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) a Flemish/Netherlandish anatomist, physician, and author of books on human anatomy

Anatomical illustration
2626633 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

Anatomical illustration
2626650 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

Anatomical illustration
2626649 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

Anatomical illustration
2626631 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

Edward Whitehouse
3585849 Edward Whitehouse by French School, (19th century); (add.info.: Portrait of Edward Whitehouse (1816-1890) an English surgeon and electrical engineer

Anatomical illustration
2626642 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

A 17th Century Laboratory
2626751 A 17th Century Laboratory by Mieris, Frans van (1635-81) (after); (add.info.: Artist's conception of a mid-seventeenth century laboratory. Print, Francois V)

Anatomical illustration
2626637 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

Anatomical illustration
2626632 Anatomical illustration by Gautier d'Agoty, Jacques-Fabien (1710-81); (add.info.: Anatomical study by Jacques Gautier d'Agoty Anatomie generale des visceres Paris 1752)

Native American
2626164 Native American by Curtis, Edward Sheriff (1868-1952) ; (add.info.: Native American, Piegan man, full-length portrait, kneeling on right knee, facing front, holding medicine pipe)

Native American Piegan fringed leather Medicine bags
2626719 Native American Piegan fringed leather Medicine bags by Curtis, Edward Sheriff (1868-1952) ; (add.info.: Four Native American Piegan fringed leather Medicine bags hung on tripod)

Native American Piegan fringed leather Medicine bag
2626718 Native American Piegan fringed leather Medicine bag by Curtis, Edward Sheriff (1868-1952) ; (add.info.: Native American Piegan fringed leather Medicine bag)

illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving)
2625965 illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info)

illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving)
2625936 illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info)

illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving)
2625955 illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info)

illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving)
2625961 illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info)

illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving)
2625960 illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info)

illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving)
2625958 illustration from Traite de phrenologie humaine et comparee, 19th century (engraving) by French School, (19th century); (add.info)

Procession of Saint Charles Borromeo during the plague of Milan, 1861. Found in the Collection of the Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Saint Roch attending the Venice plague-victims in the Lazaretto. Private Collection

Isola del Lazzaretto Vecchio, Second Half of the 18th cen. Private Collection

Isolario veneto, XII. Isola del Lazzaretto Vecchio, 1777. Private Collection

Lazzaretto Nuovo on a map of 17th century. Creator: Historical Document
Lazzaretto Nuovo on a map of 17th century. Found in the Collection of the Polo Museale Veneto

Illustration from the book "Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae"by H
Illustration from the book " Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae" by H. Khunrath, 1595. Private Collection

Illustration from "Fasciculo di medicina"by Johannes de Ketham, 1493
Illustration from " Fasciculo di medicina" by Johannes de Ketham, 1493. Private Collection

Desire-Magloire Bourneville and Paul Regnard Iconographie Photographique de la
2626848 Desire-Magloire Bourneville and Paul Regnard Iconographie Photographique de la SalptriAre by Regnard, Paul (1850-1927); (add.info)

Rene Laennec (1781-1826) listening to the chest of a man with consumption
2626841 Rene LaA'nnec (1781-1826) listening to the chest of a man with consumption, at the Necker Hospital, 1816 by Chartran

The Plates from the First Book of the De Humani Corporis Fabrica by Andreas Vesalius
1573815 The Plates from the First Book of the De Humani Corporis Fabrica by Andreas Vesalius, (1514-1564) by Vesalius, Andreas (1514-64); (add.info)

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The history of medicine is a fascinating journey through time, filled with peculiar practices and groundbreaking discoveries. In the medieval era, physicians relied on the bizarre urine wheel to diagnose illnesses, believing that different colors and odors indicated specific diseases. The haunting image of the plague doctor in 17th-century artwork reminds us of the devastating Black Death that ravaged Europe, while trepanation depicted in 14th-century art showcases an ancient surgical technique involving drilling holes into the skull. Satirical artwork from centuries ago humorously portrays barber-surgeons performing surgeries alongside their usual hair-cutting duties. A medical zodiac diagram from the 15th century reveals how astrological signs were once believed to influence health conditions. Moving forward to France in the 18th century, we encounter another depiction of a plague doctor donning a beaked mask as protection against contagious diseases. Even prescriptions did not escape satire; satirical artworks mockingly portrayed doctors prescribing absurd remedies for various ailments. Notable figures like Louis Pasteur revolutionized medicine by discovering germ theory and developing vaccines against deadly diseases like rabies. Artistic representations also shed light on medical research throughout history. "The Research" by Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida captures scientists tirelessly studying under dim candlelight, symbolizing their relentless pursuit of knowledge. Amidst these historical moments are depictions of everyday life: an artwork showcasing a rat flea transmitting the Black Death highlights one aspect of this devastating pandemic's impact on society, while satirical illustrations reveal comical attempts at treating foot corns or exploring animal magnetism – an outdated belief in healing powers transferred between humans and animals. As we delve into the captivating history of medicine through art and artifacts, it becomes evident how far humanity has come in understanding and combating illness. From peculiar practices rooted in superstition to groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs, our journey through medical history continues to shape modern healthcare practices today.