This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Luxation table, Italian, mid 16th century.
Full 3/4 view, graduated grey background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Luxation table, Italian, mid 16th century.
Full view, 3/4, graduated grey background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Luxation table, Italian, mid 16th century.
End view, hard dramatic lighting. Grey background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Copy of Pare's operating table, 16th century.
Full 3/4 view, graduated grey background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Luxation table, Italian, mid 16th century
'Luxation' means the complete dislocation of a joint. This luxation table has poles at each end for stretching a body, realigning dislocated joints or treating spinal injuries. It was a popular treatment throughout history up to the Middle Ages. The body was tied at the feet and hands, or sometimes around the waist, to the poles at either end of the table. Handles were attached to these poles and slowly turned to obtain the level of force needed to realign the joint.
A contemporary illustration suggests this table may be a ‘Hippocrates Traction Table’ and used vertically rather than its current horizontal alignment. This theory is supported by the turned table legs being a later addition. The square holes may have held pegs to treat people of varying height. It is thought a family of Indian peasants used the table as an ordinary dining table for many years.
Details
- Category:
- Surgery
- Object Number:
- A602010
- Materials:
- fittings, iron, wood
- type:
- traction table
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