instruments Archives - British Society for the History of Medicine

Electricity and Pancakes

Lee Coppack — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 10:47:49 +0000

Adrian Thomas describes how the poet William Cowper used electricity to treat a friend who suffered a stroke. I had a significant birthday recently, and as a birthday treat, we decided to visit Olney in Buckinghamshire where the poet William Cowper (1731-1800) lived. In his day Cowper was arguably the most popular and influential poet […]

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‘Wilson’s balls’: TB treatment in the 1940s-1950s

Lee Coppack — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 11:42:21 +0000

A chance encounter with a jam jar of what appeared to be old ping pong balls in the (currently closed) Bakelite Museum in Somerset, set Christine Gowing on a fascinating journey to discover their link to pulmonary tuberculosis. In 1945, someone died every ten minutes from pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in the United States. Nearly 50 […]

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Mystery object – Frimley Sanatorium

Edward Wawrzynczak — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:51:08 +0000

Both the illustration and above object performed the same function. Can anyone name them? Answer to be published on Friday 17th July. *** Update. See below for the answer *** Mystery object 1 is an illustration of an object written by patient WA, a recovered tuberculosis patient, to the Lady Almoner at Frimley […]

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The Humble Toothbrush

Edward Wawrzynczak — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 13:44:56 +0000

This blog focuses on the humble toothbrush: that everyday object that we too easily take for granted. Although many may consider the toothbrush a fairly insignificant and disposable item, it actually has rather an interesting history… Early forms of the toothbrush have been in existence since about 3000 BC. Some Egyptian tombs have been found […]

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The Story of the Stethoscope

Edward Wawrzynczak — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 20:31:23 +0000

One might not automatically recognise the image below as that of an early version of the medical stethoscope. It certainly looks very different today. This blog focuses on the invention of this instrument, synonymous with the medical profession, over 200 years ago. Laennec-type monaural stethoscope, France, 1851-1900. Credit: Science Museum, London. CC BY. […]

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Mystery Object – Sheffield

Edward Wawrzynczak — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 14:01:35 +0000

What is the name of this instrument from the Sheffield Hospitals History Group collection? What was it used for? Who was the eponymous doctor associated with this device? Answers will appear here in the middle of May. submitted by Mike Collins Answers 9/5/2018 What is the name of this instrument and what was it used […]

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What looks primitive now was “cutting edge” then.

Edward Wawrzynczak — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 17:21:04 +0000

I recently presented a webinar for the British Institute of Radiology, looking at the developments of X-ray tubes. These tubes were developed in the 19th century and many contributed, including Michael Faraday and William Crookes. Whilst writing my talk I had several thoughts. It is easy to look at early apparatus and see it as […]

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