The Science and Art of Medicine

 

On Display

Artificial leg, Roman, c 300 BC.

Copy of Roman artificial leg, c.1910. The original was made of bronze and had been excavated from a grave in Capua, Italy. Dating from c.300BC, it was the oldest artificial limb to be discovered. Kept at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, it

 
Greek and Roman mixing bowls with 'Larva Convivialis', 450 BC-200 AD.

Red figure column krater, decorated with drinking scenes by the Cleveland Painter, inscription painted over are of the figures, Attica, Greece, 460-440BC

 
Ancient Egyptian mummified cat, 2000-100 BC.

Mummified cat, Ancient Egyptian, 2000-100BC. Cats had enormous significance for the Egyptian people, and their relationship with them was principally religious. The mummification of cats, and their burial within the temple, was performed to provide t

 
Ancient Egyptian amulet, heart-shaped stone, 4000-30 BC.

Heart-shaped stone amulet, Egyptian, 4000-30 BC. Possibly taken from a tomb.

 
Bronze Age 'base ring' juglets, Cyprus, 14th century BC.

"Base Ring" juglet with handle, of polished earthenware, with decorative relief bands and traces of dark slip, from Cyprus, 1600BC-1400BC. Earthenware is a low-fired ceramic that is porous unless covered with glaze. Most clays can be used to produce

 
Ancient Egyptian eye amulets, 4000-30 BC.

Faience amulet, eye, Egyptian, 4000-30BC

 
Ancient Egyptian amulet representing the god Thoth, 4000-30 BC.

Amulet representing the god Thoth, Ancient Egyptian, 4000-30 BC. Carved from the blue rock, lapis lazuli, Thoth was one of the most popular Egyptian gods and had multiple roles in Egyptian mythology. He was the god of wisdom, writing and the moon, t

 
Roman glass bottles, 3rd to 5th century AD.

Glass bottle, long neck, two handles, Roman, 251-450AD. Glass appears to have been produced as far back as the second millennium BC by the Egyptians and perhaps the Phoenicians. Around the end of the 1st century BC glass-blowing was developed, whereb

 
Pharmacy leech jar, English, 1830-1870.

Pharmacy leech jar, marbled and gilt earthenware, perhaps Staffordshire, English, inscribed � Leeches�.

 

A bottle containing Strophanthus Tincture tablets, made by Burroughs Wellcome & Co. Ripe seeds from Strophanthus gratus and kombé plants contain a chemical that works on the heart. In Europe it has been made into tablets, powders or solutions for inj