History Of Medicine Gallery

The Dance of Death, allegorical artwork

The Dance of Death (1493). This artwork, by the German painter Michael Wolgemut (1434-1519), was published in the Liber chronicarum (Book of Chronicles, Nuremburg, 1493) by the German physician Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514). Depicting skeletons dancing by a grave, the concept is that of the Danse Macabre, a medieval allegory reminding people that death comes to everyone, no matter what status they attain in life. This copy of the artwork is from the German book Die Karikatur und Satire in der Medizin (Caricature and Satire in Medicine, 1921) by the German art historian and physician Eugen Hollander (1867-1932)

© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Cramp of the foot, satirical artwork

Cramp of the foot. Satirical artwork showing a man suffering an attack of cramp in his right foot, the toes of which have contracted in a painful spasm. The 2-volume medical encyclopedia on the table at right is labelled Buchan's Family Medicine, a reference to the famous work Domestic Medicine (1769) by the Scottish physician William Buchan (1729-1805). This artwork, dating from 1828, was published in London. This version is from the German book Die Karikatur und Satire in der Medizin (Caricature and Satire in Medicine, 1921) by the German art historian and physician Eugen Hollander (1867-1932)

© SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

excision of the elbow, sawing of the humerus, medical equipment, surgical instrument

excision of the elbow, sawing of the humerus, medical equipment, surgical instrument, history of medicine

© Quint Lox Limited

1891, 19th Century, Elbow, Equipment, Excision, Frederick Treves, Healthcare, History Of Medicine, Humerus, Instrument, Medical, Medical Equipment, Sawing, Surgeon, Surgery, Surgical Instrument, Tools