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  • Compass Microscope - 18th century development of the Murschenbroek simple microscope. It has a circular disc carrying lens of various powers.
  • Atropa belladonna L. Solanaceae. Deadly nightshade. Dwale. Morella, Solatrum, Hound's berries, Uva lupina, Cucubalus, Solanum lethale. Atropa derives from Atropos the oldest of the three Fates of Greek mythology who cut the thread of Life (her sisters Clotho and Lachesis spun and measured the thread, respectively). belladonna, literally, means 'beautiful lady' and was the Italian name for it. Folklore has it that Italian ladies put drops from the plant or the fruits in their eyes to make themselves doe-eyed, myopic and beautiful. However, this is not supported by the 16th and 17th century literature, where no mention is ever made of dilated pupils (or any of the effects of parasympathetic blockade). Tournefort (1719) says 'The Italians named this plant Belladonna, which in their language signifies a beautiful woman, because the ladies use it much in the composition of their Fucus [rouge or deceit or cosmetic] or face paint.' Parkinson says that the Italian ladies use the distilled juice as a fucus '... peradventure [perhaps] to take away their high colour and make them looke paler.' I think it more likely that they absorbed atropine through their skin and were slightly 'stoned' and disinhibited, which made them beautiful ladies in the eyes of Italian males. Distribution: Europe, North Africa, western Asia. Culpeper (1650) writes: 'Solanum. Nightshade: very cold and dry, binding … dangerous given inwardly … outwardly it helps the shingles, St Antonie's Fire [erysipelas] and other hot inflammation.' Most of the 16th, 17th and 18th century herbals recommend it topically for breast cancers. Poisonous plants were regarded as 'cold' plants as an excess of them caused death and the body became cold. They were regarded as opposing the hot humour which kept us warm and alive. Poultices of Belladonna leaves are still recommended for muscle strain in cyclists, by herbalists. Gerard (1633) writes that it: 'causeth sleep, troubleth the mind, bringeth madnesse if a few of the berries be inwardly taken, but if more be taken they also kill...'. He was also aware that the alkaloids could be absorbed through the skin for he notes that a poultice of the leaves applied to the forehead, induces sleep, and relieves headache. The whole plant contains the anticholinergic alkaloid atropine, which blocks the peripheral actions of acetylcholine in the parasympathetic nervous system. Atropine is a racemic mixture of d- and l- hyoscyamine. Atropine, dropped into the eyes, blocks the acetylcholine receptors of the pupil so it no longer constricts on exposure to bright light - so enabling an ophthalmologist to examine the retina with an ophthalmoscope. Atropine speeds up the heart rate, reduces salivation and sweating, reduces gut motility, inhibits the vertigo of sea sickness, and is used to block the acetylcholine receptors to prevent the effects of organophosphorous and other nerve gas poisons. It is still has important uses in medicine. Atropine poisoning takes three or for days to wear off, and the hallucinations experienced by its use are described as unpleasant. We have to be content with 'madness', 'frenzie' and 'idle and vain imaginations' in the early herbals to describe the hallucinations of atropine and related alkaloids as the word 'hallucination' in the sense of a perception for which there is no external stimulus, was not used in English until 1646 (Sir T. Browne, 1646). It is a restricted herbal medicine which can only be sold in premises which are registered pharmacies and by or under the supervision of a pharmacist (UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)). Photographed in the Medicinal Garden of the Royal College of Physicians, London.
  • Different attributes and displays of the arts and sciences in a classical courtyard. Engraving by Grignion after Le Clerc.
  • A woman performing chemical experiments with a furnace: representing chemistry. Etching by E-J-N. de Ghendt after C-N. Cochin the younger, 1773.
  • A female figure with a vacuum pump; representing physics or 'natural philosophy'. Stipple engraving, 1795, after C-N. Cochin the younger, c. 1773.
  • Two workers in an alchemist's laboratory, surrounded by chemical receptacles and equipment. Engraving, 1669.
  • A female figure with a vacuum pump; representing physics. Etching by C.L. de Lingée after C-N. Cochin the younger, c. 1773.
  • Academy or university, Portugal or Brazil: elevation. Etching.
  • A female figure among astronomical apparatus: representing astronomy. Stipple engraving, 1795, after C-N. Cochin the younger, 1773.
  • A female figure among astronomical apparatus: representing astronomy. Etching by F.D. Née after C-N. Cochin the younger, 1773.
  • Putti perform an anatomical dissection on a dog; others hold a jar containing a human foetus; two more play with a spider; representing anatomy and natural history. Etching by B. Picart, 1729.
  • Putti deprive a bird of air in a vacuum experiment, one plays at billiards, another plays with magnetised keys, while outside a storm rages: representing physics. Etching by B. Picart, 1729, after himself.
  • Wisdom shows Britannia the measurements of the globe; figures representing other continents stand watching. Engraving by W. Swift after W.M. Craig.
  • Putti plan war manoeuvres on maps with the help of geometrical diagrams; representing geometry and military science. Etching by B. Picart, 1729, after himself.
  • Early books on medicine, natural sciences and alchemy.
  • A child blowing bubbles. Engraving by J.G. Wille, 1761, after G. Netscher, 1670 (?).
  • Leather covered case of trephination instruments.
  • Text on traditional Chinese medicine.
  • Text on traditional Chinese medicine.
  • M0008187: Two amputation saws, 16th and 18th century
  • De frugum historia liber unus. Ejusdem epistolae duae, una de farre, chondro, trago, ptisana, crimino et alica. Altera de zytho et cerevisia / [Rembert Dodoens].
  • De frugum historia liber unus. Ejusdem epistolae duae, una de farre, chondro, trago, ptisana, crimino et alica. Altera de zytho et cerevisia / [Rembert Dodoens].
  • History of the microscope..., December, 1948
  • Hortus sanitatis, quatuor libris haec quae snbsequuntur [sic] complectens. De animalibus et reptilibus. De avibus et volatilibus. De piscibus et natatilibus. De gemmis et in vevis [sic] terrae nascentibus ... Omnia castigatius, quam hactenus videre licuit.
  • The Italian social fabric symbolised by a chain of social types, with all relations of dependence ultimately relating back to the devil. Etching by G.M. Mitelli, 1691.
  • A procession of historical figures accompanying a car on which Time sits measuring the globe; representing the triumph of Time. Engraving by S. Pomarede, 1748, after G. Buti after Bonifacio de' Pitati.
  • Selection of apothecary jars
  • Selection of apothecary jars
  • M0007284: Anatomical female manikin in wax, c. late 18th century
  • M0007258: Anatomical female manikin in wax, c. late 18th century