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  • Article

The father of handwashing

Doctors performing autopsies and then delivering babies – with not a hint of soap in between – was the grim recipe producing a lot of motherless offspring in the 1800s. But one man’s gargantuan efforts to upend accepted medical thinking turned the tide.

  • Article

Coleridge’s hypochondria

An intense focus on his own bodily sensations led poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge to self-medicate with narcotics. But this fascination also put Coleridge ahead of the medical sensibilities of his day.

  • Article

Printing the body

The 18th century saw multiple technical developments in both printing and medicine. Colourful collaborations ensued – to the benefit of growing ranks of medical students.

  • Article

Making sense of senses lost

In rapid succession, Steve Barker suddenly lost sight and hearing on his left side. The effect on how he perceives the world has been profound.

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Images

  • Surgical instruments and bandages, as well as a saw. Engraving by J. Brown.
  • Surgical instruments, including protheses, pliers and a bone-saw. Engraving with etching by Mutlow.
  • Surgical instruments for trepanning, including Mr. Hey's large straight saw. Engraving by Wilson Lowry after J. Farey jun.
  • Surgical instruments, including an amputating saw, an amputating knife, scalpels and bone nippers. Engraving by Wilson Lowry, 1810.
  • Surgery: surgical instruments for the amputation of limbs, including an amputation saw, bone nippers and cartilege forceps. Engraving with etching by A.J. Defehrt after L.-J. Goussier.
  • Surgical instruments, including saws, pliers and hammers. Coloured lithograph.
  • Surgical instruments, including saws, scalpels and forceps. Engraving with etching, 1771.
  • Surgical instruments, including lancets, saws and forceps; advertising the work of the surgical instrument-maker J. Songy. Etching, 1732.
  • Surgical instruments, including lancets, saws and forceps, made by Isaac Grenier; advertising his goods for sale. Etching by H. Neutte [?], 1698.
  • John Cargill, instrument maker, at ye Saw & Crown in Lombard Street, London : makes & sells all sorts of surgeons instruments, razors, scizers, penknives, caseknives, carving knives, cuttoes, &c. : at reasonable rates.
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