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
1701-1800
Ivory dildo, in the form of an erect penis, complete with contrivance for simulating ejaculation, possibly French, 1701-1800
1880-1920
Jugum penis, an anti-masturbatory device also known as a spermatorrhoea ring, steel, nickel-plated, probably British, 1880-1920
1862
Improved Patent Magneto Electric Machine for nervous diseases, dynamo with steel magnet and brass and ebony terminals to apply to patient, all in polished wood case dated, unsigned, Europe, 1862
1840-1900
English exercise chair, 19th century
1890-1910
Mechanical massager, Dr. Macaura's blood circulator, made by British Appliances Manufacturing Co., Leeds, English, 1890-1910
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.
199-500
Bronze lancet, found at Ephesus
1979
Diorama of a First World War dressing station
1890-1900
4 lenses from the Finsen ultraviolet lamp, presented by Princess Alexandra to the London Hospital in 1900
1845-1880
Rynd's hypodermic syringe, steel with ivory handle, in maroon leatherette case, by Weiss, London, 1860-1880
1953
'Smith-Clarke Senior' adult cabinet respirator 'Iron Lung' designed by George Thomas Smith-Clarke and made by Cape Engineering Company Limited, Warwick, England, 1953
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
1801-1900
Pewter leech box, 19th century
1961-1971
Milton Roy kidney machine used for home dialysis, c.1966
1925-1945
One of three corrective ear cap of pink ribbon, elastic and net in box, patented by Claxton, English, 1925-1945
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
1900-1915
Mechanical ' VeeDee' vibrator, cased by J.E. Garratt, London, English, 1900-1915
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'.
1855-1900
Reservoir for an Eguisier's enema, French, 1855-1900
1978
M.R.C. straight sided blood transfusion bottle, capped, with rubber tubing and drop indicator, from the National Blood Transfusion Service, 1978
1840-1895
Cased, mercury douche with fittings for urethral therapy, made by A. Aubry, 5 Boulevard St. Michel, Paris, France, 1840-1895.
1701-1900
Earthenware bleeding bowl, glazed, graduated, English, 18th or 19th century
1949
Designed in 1949 by Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish Neuro-Surgeon who escaped to England with his family in 1939. The Bed cycle was used as an exercise bike for both paraplegics and tetraplegics. It was made by Metal Products Ltd., Carshalton, Surrey. This specimen was first used at The Chaseley Trust for Disabled Ex-Servicemen, Eastbourne, Sussex in 1946 and last used by a tetraplegic in 1994
External cardiac pacemaker, external pulse generator type E4162, made by Implants Division of Devices Ltd., British, 1978
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.
1930-1939
Drinker iron lung respirator, by Siebe Gorman and Co. Ltd., London, 1930s
1961-1962
Cardiac pacemaker, first implantable model, made at St. George's Hospital, prior to commercial availability, 1961-1962
1801-1850
Wood and leather bellows, part of first aid kit in wooden case for resuscitation, dating from first half 19th Century
The main circular unit of the Finsen ultraviolet lamp, presented by Princess Alexandra to the London Hospital in 1900
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
1915-1925
Electric tonic amusement machine c.1920
1544
Bone fleam case, intricately carved with representation of the crucifixion and the Garden of Eden with four ivory tablets, probably German, 1544
Six lancets in a tortoiseshell case, various makers, English, 1700-1900
1860-1875
Brass scarificator with 12 lancets
1901-1930
Haldane's oxygen apparatus for four people
Medicinal leeches, two, in glass specimen jar, probably British variety, 19th to early 20th century
Blundell (?) blood transfusion apparatus in mahogany case, by Savigny and Co., London 19th century.
1923
Ampoule of 5cc of Iletin (insulin) in carton, with instruction leaflet, manufactured by Eli Lilly & Company, Indianapolis, USA, 1923.
1914-1918
Saddle-bag first aid kit, pair of canvas panniers linked by rubber band, containing dressings, tablets and ointments, many prepared by Burroughs Wellcome and Co., English, 1900-1918
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
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
Pewter bleeding bowl, graduated, 1701-1900
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).
Galvanic brooch, various metals, with head profile of a bald bearded man, by Z. Osselin, French, 1880-1920
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.
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.
1945
Ampoule of the First International Standard (1945) of penicillin
Galvanic necklace with 2 charms, made by N. Bertrand, Paris, French, 1880-1920
