Explore objects revealing the many ways medical professionals have thought about and treated mental illness, as well as attempts to measure and categorise people, whether physically or mentally.
Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry
1960-1990
Passalong Test for measuring concrete ability, four tests (some incomplete), each originally consisting of 4 wooden trays and approx 14 wooden blocks, painted in red or blue, with 8 design cards; distributed by the National Foundation for Educational Research; used by the Institute of Education, University of Liverpool, c.1960-1990.
1947
Szondi-Test, Experimentelle triebdiagnostik, Testband. Box set containing cards with photographic portraits, includes instructions. From effects of psychiatrist Ann Dally.
1930-1960
Canvas straitjacket for restraining adult patients, made in London, England, c.1930-1960, and used at the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.
1859-1939
Bird cage, from ward at Sussex Lunatic Asylum/Brighton County Borough Asylum, 1859-1939. Vintage label reads: 'PARROT CAGE / Major Meek presented the female / patients with four fine parrots.'
1937
Passalong Test, a performance test of intelligence for persons 7 to 20 years old, invented by W.P. Alexander c. 1937 and published by University of London Press in 1937.
1879-1896
Fowler's phrenological head, 19th century, English, 1860-1896
1821
Earthenware phrenological bust, areas are marked off with an impressed line, by J. De Ville, London, 1821. When this bust was ordered it probably came with De Ville's Manual of Phrenology (1826).
1921
Set of ten Rorschach inkblot test cards in cardboard case, printed by Hans Huber, Bern, Switzerland, 1921-1950
1886-1927
Phrenological calliper(?), possibly nickel-plated brass, from the British Phrenological Society, by Arnold and Sons, London.
1940-1970
Leather belt, with keyring attached, used by State Registered Mental Nurse, England, mid 20th century
1937-1960
'Complete Test Material Form M Revised Stanford-Binet Scales by Terman-Merrill', in wooden case containing form board, printed card material, and picture of child, by Houghten Mifflin Co. USA, 1937. See 1980-1429/4 for a complete description of this revision of the Stanford-Binet.
1860-1896
Earthenware phrenological bust, area divisions and labels marked in underglaze black, by L.N. Fowler, London 1860-1896
1901-1930
Truncheon, leather covered spring, reputedly used at Narborough Mental Asylum, early 20th century
1831
Wooden case containing set of 60 small phrenological heads, by William Bally, Manchester or Dublin, 1831
1937-1949
formboard from Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales (Form M): An intelligence test for Children; devised by Lewis M. Terman and Maud A. Merrill in 1937, used on the University of Aberdeen Experimental Education EdB course, 1949-50; made in the USA by Houghton Mifflin Company.
1960-1980
Seguin Form Board, a non-verbal intelligence test; as used by the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, c.1960-2000.
1862-1900
Broca goniometer for determining the "facial angle" and "facial triangle" in anthropometrical studies, invented by Paul Broca. No maker marked, French, 1862-1900
Canvas jacket for restraining young children, sleeveless with side straps to allow the arms to be tied in at waist level, made in London, England, c.1930-1960, and used at the Frenchay Hospital, Bristol.
1958
Printer unit for Type T Dynograph portable 8 channel EEG pen recorder manufactured by Offner in 1958 and used at the Burden Neurological Institute. The instrument employs direct coupled amplifiers enabling recording of steady potentials and transients. 8 double ganged 24 way switches enable any two of 24 electrodes to be connected to each of the 8 channels.
1879-1921
"A Phrenological Chart of Character" pamphlet by Mr and Mrs Stackpool E O'Dell of the London Phrenological Institution recording a consultation by a Mr Goodman in 1921, recording character, health, diet and appropriate marriage partner
1890-1914
Alarm whistle for use by Warders at Winson Green Mental Hospital, German Silver, by J. Hudson and Co., Birmingham 1890-1914.
1871-1930
Part of male anti-masturbation apparatus, probably late 19th or early 20th century
1950-1952
Cybernetic tortoise, with photo-electric cell, developed to help with studies on brain function, invented and made by William Grey Walter, at the Burden Neurological Institute, Bristol, England, 1950-1952
Stereotactic frame and introducer needles made and used at the Burden Neurological Institute. With the patient under general anaesthetic the stainless steel frame is secured to the skull with the 4 pointed screws. The post with crocodile clip is screwed into the needle holder (on the anterior/posterior slide) and is used to support the sheaf of electrodes when the needle is being withdrawn. The two adjustable rods on the ends of the lateral slide are for positioning the frame (and head) for the X rays.
1950-1990
Rubber electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) mouth gag by Ectron used at St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, 1950-1990. Some teeth marks are visible.
1900-1970
Register of patient departures, discharges, transfers and deaths (blank), from Brighton County Borough Asylum/St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, Haywards Heath, 1900-1970.
1898-1908
Fechner's double sound pendulum for testing aural discrimination, by E. Zimmerman, Leipzig and Berlin
1950-1953
`CORA', Conditioned Reflex Analogue device designed by William Grey Walter and built by Bunny Warren at the Burden Neurological Institute, Bristol, c1953
1876-1920
Galton's whistle
1823
Plaster phrenological head of Gall, founder of phrenology, by James De Ville (1777-1846), Strand, London, 1823
1954-1960
Skinfold calipers for measuring subcutaneous tissue thickness in estimation of body fat for anthropometric population studies, as used in the Harpenden Growth Study, and tested by the MRC Committee on Growth and Form, owned by FP Ellis, with instructions and table of log transformation of measurements, made by British Indicators Ltd., St. Albans, Herts, 1954-1960.
1962
Half set of gold electrodes made at the Burden Neurological Institute in 1962. The electrodes were implanted in the right frontal lobe of a patient. There are two sheaves each of 4 electrodes (light gold in colour) and 4 sheaves of 3 electrodes (dark gold). Stitches anchor the bundle to the scalp. Cotton tape on the socket was tied to a stainless steel wire looped to another loop through the skull to prevented the patient pulling the wires out.
ESP cards for testing extra-sensory perception, also known as Zener cards after their inventor, American psychologist Karl Zener; popularised by parapsychologist Joseph Banks Rhine of the Parapsychology Laboratory at Duke University in North Carolina. Plain (uncoloured) set of 25 cards in case, with instructions and rating table. Published by Whitman Publishing Company, United States; copyright J.B. Rhine, 1937.
1950
Children's Apperception Test; devised by Leopold Bellak in 1950 and published by the Australian Council for Educational Research; includes analysis blank, ten 8"x10" cards and manual; used at the Institute of Education, University of Liverpool, c.1960-1990.
1870-1909
Brass door plate, belonging to Dr. P.F. Gachet (1828-1909), French, 1870-1909
1921-1939
"Chronoscope" for measuring reaction times, electrical mechanism in wooden case, lacks actuating switches, by National Institute of Industrial Psychology, London, early 20th century
1874-1902
Craniometer, stainless steel, by Down Bros.
1840-1880
Oval dynamometer with central scale with indicator, used by Paul Broca, a pioneering craniologist, made by Mathieu, Paris, French, 1940-1880
1870-1910
Hospital ward letter box for the posting of patients' letters, Suffolk, England, 1870-1910.
1810-1830
Plaster phrenological head, unsigned, possibly of Dr William Dodd, a forger, United Kingdom, 1801-1900.
1946-1950
Alexander Performance Scale Test material comprising: Passalong Test, Kohs' Block Design Test and Cube Construction Test with test cards and instructions in wooden case, made by Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., Edinburgh, 1946-1950
1828-1914
Metal key for writing desk from the Office of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy, attached to two cotton tassels.
Grave '239'. One of four numbered iron crosses used to mark the graves of patients buried in the hospital grounds
1900-1960
Key made by patient from spoon at the Brighton County Borough Asylum/St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, 1900-1960.
Grave '221'. One of four numbered iron crosses used to mark the graves of patients buried in the hospital grounds
1870-1920
Pegging Clock device, by John Moore and Sons, Clerkenwell, London, for recording warder patrols at Sussex Lunatic Asylum/Brighton County Borough Asylum, Haywards Heath, 1870-1920
1889-1990
Iron used by patients in hospital laundry
1934 -1990
Picture of St Audry's Hospital painted by patient
Control unit for Type T Dynograph portable 8 channel EEG pen recorder manufactured by Offner in 1958 and used at the Burden Neurological Institute. The instrument employs direct coupled amplifiers enabling recording of steady potentials and transients. 8 double ganged 24 way switches enable any two of 24 electrodes to be connected to each of the 8 channels.
1900-1939
A Peg Clock Point, electro-mechanical, with two remote switches, by Cox-Walkers of Darlington, used to record warder patrols at Sussex Lunatic Asylum/Brighton County Borough Asylum, 1900-1939.
