Post mortem table, Lambeth, England, 1921-1930

Post mortem table, Lambeth, England, 1921-1930 Post mortem table, Lambeth, England, 1921-1930 Post mortem table, Lambeth, England, 1921-1930 Post mortem table, Lambeth, England, 1921-1930

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem table ceramic, by Doulton, used until 1944 at the Rotherhithe Mortuary, c. 1925, with ceramic legs

Bodies were laid upon post-mortem tables for examination after death. A post-mortem is also called an autopsy. It is a medical procedure where the body is opened up to discover the cause and manner of a death. They became common practice in the early 1800s. Post-mortems helped physicians learn more about the internal symptoms and signs of disease.

This ceramic table was made by famous ceramics company Royal Doulton Limited. It was used at Rotherhithe Mortuary in London until 1944. The table has recessed grooves and a central drainage hole to drain body fluids released during the autopsy. The ceramic table was easily cleaned. It was more hygienic than wooden models used in the past.

Details

Category:
Anatomy & Pathology
Object Number:
1979-787
Materials:
ceramic
Measurements:
overall: 775 mm x 2030 mm x 775 mm, 282.5 kg
pedastals: 665 mm x 500 mm x 270 mm, 76 kg
table: 110 mm x 2030 mm x 775 mm, 206.5 kg
type:
post mortem table
credit:
Southwark Borough Development Dept.