The Science and Art of Medicine
On Display
Faience amulet, eye, Egyptian, 4000-30BC
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
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
Two large acupuncture needles, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The needles are inserted into chosen points on the body to stimulate the movement of the energy qi and balance the Yin and Yang parts of the qi.
A glass bottle containing Kola Compound elixir, made by Parke, Davis and Co., derived from African kola nuts. The active ingedient in kola nuts is caffeine, and its stimulating effect makes it useful in medicines worldwide.
These crushable ampoules contain chloroform and are called �Brisettes�. They are composed of glass with a protective wrapping of gauze and cotton wool and were made by Macfarlan and Co., Edinburgh and London, for use in midwifery. Billings and Sons L
A set of four divination plaques on a string, used by the Mashona people of Zimbabwe. Mashona diviners use only red ivorywood for their plaques, as they believe it is the only wood that tells the truth. It is the royal wood of KwaZulu Natal and is n
Rynd's hypodermic syringe, steel with ivory handle, in maroon leatherette case, by Weiss, London.
A packet of moxa caps, designed to be placed on the heads of acupuncture needles. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs are burnt in the cap, and the heat from the burning herbs travels through the acupuncture needle into the body.