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

An engraving depicting the opening of the National Cottage Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the chest
5310616 An engraving depicting the opening of the National Cottage Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the chest, Isle of Wight

An engraving depicting the exterior of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, 19th century
5310638 An engraving depicting the exterior of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1895); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Engraving depicting a doctor visiting a dying boy at home
5309289 Engraving depicting a doctor visiting a dying boy at home; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a doctor visiting a dying boy at home)

Cartoon informing people to boost their immune systems during the flu season, 19th century
5309252 Cartoon informing people to boost their immune systems during the flu season, 19th century; (add.info.: Cartoon informing people to boost their immune systems during the flu season)

An illustration depicting a scene within a ward of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, 19th century
5310619 An illustration depicting a scene within a ward of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1895); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting Leamington Hospital for diseases of the skin, 19th century
5310618 An engraving depicting Leamington Hospital for diseases of the skin, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1870); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Method of sterilising wounds, 1900 (engraving)
5309461 Method of sterilising wounds, 1900 (engraving); (add.info.: Method of sterilising wounds using Dakin's sodium hypochlorite 0.05 per cent)

Woodblock engraving depicting a bloodletting scene
5309453 Woodblock engraving depicting a bloodletting scene; (add.info.: Woodblock engraving depicting a bloodletting scene. A physician bleeding a patient from the arm)

Engraving depicting the Staff of Hermes, also known as the caduceus, is the traditional symbol of Hermes
5309414 Engraving depicting the Staff of Hermes, also known as the caduceus, is the traditional symbol of Hermes and features two snakes winding around an often winged staff; (add.info)

Engraving depicting a country doctor making up a prescription, 19th century
5309348 Engraving depicting a country doctor making up a prescription, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a country doctor making up a prescription)

An engraving depicting an operation to remove a cataract: a hook was used to elevate tissue
5311413 An engraving depicting an operation to remove a cataract: a hook was used to elevate tissue and the threaded needle inserted

An engraving depicting Knapp's auto-ophthalmoscope, 19th century
5311417 An engraving depicting Knapp's auto-ophthalmoscope, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1880); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An engraving depicting public vaccination in Paris. A cow with a shaved portion of its stomach infected with cowpox
5311239 An engraving depicting public vaccination in Paris. A cow with a shaved portion of its stomach infected with cowpox and taken around the city in a van

An engraving depicting the lady of the house giving her servant a spoon of medicine, 19th century
5311198 An engraving depicting the lady of the house giving her servant a spoon of medicine, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1890); Universal History Archive/UIG.

An advertisement for Tamar Indien Grillon a refreshing fruit lozenge to relieve constipation and other gastric
5311141 An advertisement for Tamar Indien Grillon a refreshing fruit lozenge to relieve constipation and other gastric and intestinal troubles

An engraving depicting a statue of Edward Jenner vaccinating his son. Edward Jenner (1749-1823)
5311069 An engraving depicting a statue of Edward Jenner vaccinating his son. Edward Jenner (1749-1823) an English physician and scientist who was the pioneer of smallpox vaccine

Benjamin Ward Richardson's sketch of a model city called "Hygeiopolis", 1877 (engraving)
5310742 Benjamin Ward Richardson's sketch of a model city called "Hygeiopolis", 1877 (engraving); (add.info)

Robert John Thornton
3586084 Robert John Thornton; (add.info.: Portrait of Robert John Thornton (1768-1837) an English physician and botanical writer. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

James Young Simpson
3586168 James Young Simpson; (add.info.: Portrait of James Young Simpson (1811-1870) a Scottish obstetrician. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Johann Spurzheim
3585932 Johann Spurzheim; (add.info.: Illustration of a bust of Johann Spurzheim (1776-1832) a German physician. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Lawson Tait
3586304 Lawson Tait; (add.info.: Photograph of Lawson Tait (1845-1899) a Scottish pioneer in pelvic and abdominal surgery. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

James Syme
3586117 James Syme; (add.info.: Portrait of James Syme (1799-1870) a pioneering Scottish surgeon. Dated 19th Century.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Aristide Auguste Stanislas Verneuil
3586213 Aristide Auguste Stanislas Verneuil; (add.info.: Portrait of Aristide Auguste Stanislas Verneuil (1823-1895) a French physician and surgeon

Anatomical illustration
2626049 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustration from 'De corporis humani fabrica libri septem' (Basel: Johannes Oporinus)

Shi si jing fa hui
2626560 Shi si jing fa hui; (add.info.: Illustration from the Japanese & Chinese edition (1716) of 'Shi si jing fa hui'

Shi si jing fa hui
2626556 Shi si jing fa hui; (add.info.: Illustration from the Japanese & Chinese edition (1716) of 'Shi si jing fa hui'

Anatomical illustration
2625783 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustrationfrom 'Le corps humain et grandeur naturelle', published by Bougle? (Paris 1899).); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Anatomical illustration
2625756 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustrationfrom 'Le corps humain et grandeur naturelle', published by Bougle? (Paris 1899).); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Fasciculus medicinae
2626472 Fasciculus medicinae; (add.info.: Illustration from 'Fasciculus medicinae' Venice; 1494 the first printed book to contain anatomical illustrations)

Anatomical illustration
2625750 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustration by Ame Bourdon, from 'Nouvelles tables anatomiques'; Chambray: 1678.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Anatomical illustration
2626432 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustrations by Sigismond Balicki, 1858-1916 from 'Anatomie normale du corps humain' by Sigismond Laskowski)

Anatomical illustration
2626431 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustrations by Sigismond Balicki, 1858-1916 from 'Anatomie normale du corps humain' by Sigismond Laskowski)

Anatomical illustration
2625743 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustration by Ame Bourdon, from 'Nouvelles tables anatomiques'; Chambray: 1678.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Anatomical illustration
2625741 Anatomical illustration; (add.info.: Anatomical illustration by Ame Bourdon, from 'Nouvelles tables anatomiques'; Chambray: 1678.); Universal History Archive/UIG.

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

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.