These objects offer a hugely varied and rich source of material culture with a focus on physical therapies, from 18th century quackery and once orthodox practices like bloodletting to massage and other current treatments.
Therapeutics
1801-1900
Pewter leech box, 19th century
1916-1917
Brooch made of wire from the first Zeppelin brought-down in England, mounted on card by the British Red Cross, presumably for fund-rising purposes, c.1917
1870-1930
Electrogalvanic amulet, zinc, copper and white metal disc, made by Joseph Raspail, French, 1870-1930, with crescent moon at center and six maple(?) leaves around it, no chain. Inscribed around edge of face 'La mysterieuse pile electrique de sante de Joseph Raspail Brevete S.G.D.G.' and nearer centre 'Son fluide magnetique par excellence'. Also 'ATTRACTION' between horns of moon. On reverse around edge, 'Toujours en contact avec vous je vous preserverai et vous guerirai de toutes vos maladies'; around moon, 'Son fluide dynamique par influence'; and next to moon, 'No. 5'.
1844
Two lancets, steel blade in tortoiseshell sheath, by Savigny and Co. of London, 1810-1850, in silver case, inscribed "R.G.," made in Birmingham in 1844
1701-1900
Pewter bleeding bowl, graduated, 1701-1900
1890-1900
4 lenses from the Finsen ultraviolet lamp, presented by Princess Alexandra to the London Hospital in 1900
1870-1935
Electrogalvanic amulet, disc with zinc cross surrounded by six-petaled flower of zinc and copper, suspended on chain made of alternating copper and iron(?) links, made by I. Morana, Geneva, Swiss, 1870-1935. Six holes around edge, two used to attach chain. 'I.MORANA. | GENEVE' engraved on face. Note gap in iron(?) band around edge of disc. Similar to Richardsons-type amulets (A602762, A602763).
1880-1920
Galvanic brooch, various metals, with head profile of a bald bearded man, by Z. Osselin, French, 1880-1920
1890-1910
D'Arsonval cage for electrotherapeutic auto-conduction, octagonal wooden frame, by Richard Heller of Paris, 1890-1910, used by Dr J.-A. Riviere. Patient was insulated from all contact with current carrying wire, and since the wire was carrying high-frequency alternating current, the patient didn't feel a thing, except a slightly warm sensation.
1970-1981
Copy of blood-grouping tile, porcelain, made by H. and R.Johnson Ltd., English, 1970-1981
1925-1945
One of three corrective ear cap of pink ribbon, elastic and net in box, patented by Claxton, English, 1925-1945
199-500
Bronze lancet, found at Ephesus
1944
Five ampoules of early crystalline penicillin and one sample of undefined potency collected from Govt. agencies and industrial manufacturers in Britain and the USA by the Dept, of Biological Standards (DBS), National Institute for Medical Research Hampstead in 1944 in order to determine an International Standard.
circa 2010
ActiGait system, used for functional electrical stimulation of the lower leg and foot, made by Otto Bock Healthcare Products, Austria, c.2010. System comprises a heel switch, implantable stimulator, antenna to be positioned over the implant and a control unit that can worn at the hip or carried in a pocket.
2005-2010
Brightspark therapeutic light box for Seasonal Affective Disorder and related conditions, by Lumie, United Kingdom, 2005-2010
Earthenware bleeding bowl, glazed, graduated, English, 18th or 19th century
1701-1800
Brass enema syringe, piston-action, driven by "lazy-tongs" mechanism, possibly Portuguese, 18th century
1801-1822
Electrotherapeutic machine invented by Nairne, 1780-1809, early 19th century.
The main circular unit of the Finsen ultraviolet lamp, presented by Princess Alexandra to the London Hospital in 1900
1945
Ampoule of the First International Standard (1945) of penicillin
Galvanic necklace with 2 charms, made by N. Bertrand, Paris, French, 1880-1920
2007-2017
1 Redstone SAD light box, 10,000 lux, used as part of light therapy to help alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder
1885-1910
Hypodermic syringe, glass and nickel plated brass, in aluminium case with velvet purse, containing 6 glass phials of hypodermic tablets. 84 mm x 43 mm x 20 mm, .08kg. Phials: 76 mm x 5 mm diameter each. Phials of strychnine nitrate, atropine sulphate, cocaine hydrochloride, apomorphine hydrochloride, morphine and atropine sulphate and morphine sulphate hypodermic tablets. Made by Parke, Davis and Co., USA, 1885-1910, once the property of F. Treves, FRCS.
1750-1850
Six lancets, steel blade, in tortoiseshell sheath, various makers, in silver case, English, 1750-1850
1544
Bone fleam case, intricately carved with representation of the crucifixion and the Garden of Eden with four ivory tablets, probably German, 1544
1840-1900
English exercise chair, 19th century
1855-1900
Reservoir for an Eguisier's enema, French, 1855-1900
Six lancets in a tortoiseshell case, various makers, English, 1700-1900
1915-1925
Electric tonic amusement machine c.1920
1803-1847
Mother-of-pearl and silver case for lancets, decorated with carved figures and mother-of-pearl inlays.
1978
External cardiac pacemaker, external pulse generator type E4162, made by Implants Division of Devices Ltd., British, 1978
1946
Stoke Mandeville bed cycle designed by Dr Ludwig Guttmann while working at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital and used at The Chaseley Trust for Disabled Ex-Servicemen, Eastbourne, Sussex in 1946 until 1994 by people with spinal cord injuries for both independent and assisted exercise
1955
Rotating coil artificial kidney machine, Necker Hospital model, effectively a French-manufactured Kolff-Brigham type, made by Societe Usifroid, Paris, c.1955, and used from that date at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
1901-1905
Exercise chair for patients with poliomyelitis, made by Rossel, Schwarz and Co., Wiesbaden, Germany, 1901 to 1905
1795-1805
Set of two Perkins tractors, one grayish and one brownish, made of unknown metal alloys, in decorated red leather case, 1795-1805. These appear to be genuine, as each was stamped 'PERKINS | PATENT | TRACTORS' at the round end.
Large ivory enema syringe, piston action, French, 1701-1800
1961-1962
Cardiac pacemaker, first implantable model, made at St. George's Hospital, prior to commercial availability, 1961-1962
1909-1910
One of two boxed sets of Maxim's inhaler, Sir Hiram Maxims "Pipe of Peace", with drug prepared by John Morgan Richards and Sons Ltd., London, 1909-1910
1930-1939
Drinker iron lung respirator, by Siebe Gorman and Co. Ltd., London, 1930s
1860-1875
Brass scarificator with 12 lancets
Scarificator, brass, 12-bladed
Three cupping glasses from Edward Jenner's cupping set.
1771-1820
Mahogany case for incomplete cupping set, used by Edward Jenner, late 18th century.
1760-1820
Pharmacy leech jar, neoclassical creamware, possibly Leeds Pottery, English, 1760-1820
1980
Glucochek blood glucose meter for use with Ames Dextrostix
Medicinal leeches, two, in glass specimen jar, probably British variety, 19th to early 20th century
1881-1900
Richardson's galvanic amulet against diseases, copper, brass, steel, zinc and nickel(?), possibly USA, 1881-1900. PAT in US Feb 3 1880. R.D in Canda Feb 3 1881
1984-1992
Explanted Ventak™ AICD™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator, model 1520, serial no. 612210, one of the first commercial models available, by Cardiac Pacemakers Inc™, St. Paul's, Minnesota, USA, from St George's Hospital, Tooting, 1984-1992
1860-1916
Galvanic brooch, various metals, perforated disc, made by Ferdinand de Boyeres, French, 1860-1916. Inscribed on one side 'B S.G.D.G & Depose Ferd de Boyeres'
Galvanic brooch of black vulcanite, with cherub holding fistfuls of lightning on one side and on the reverse, inset copper plate with eight electric bolts radiating from a central object (fist? lightbulb?). Two holes drilled in the copper plate, probably for mounting. Probably London, English, 1890-1910
