Names

Melbourne University Medical History Museum Medical Quackery

IDs

MHM005

http://www.jnmhugateways.unimelb.edu.au/mhm/MHMS036.htm

Descriptions

This collection consists of 15 objects relating to the history of alternative medical practises commonly referred to as 'quackery'. Most are from the nineteenth and early twentieth and including five Révulseur or ""Lebenswecker"" apparatus, vibrators and a phrenology bust.

This collection consists of 15 objects relating to the history of alternative medical practises commonly referred to as 'quackery'. Most are from the nineteenth and early twentieth and including five Révulseur or ""Lebenswecker"" apparatus consisting of 30 or more gold-plated needles used to scarify the skin in preparation for "Oleum Baunscheidtii"" (the museum hold original bottles) which contained cyanide, croton oil and other irritants to cause eruptions. An electrical vibrator for massage by Sanax, a hand cranked ""Veedee"" vibrator by J.E. Garratt from 1906, and a battery powered Everready"" ""Medical Coil"" No. 87 vibrator. A Sterling 'Violet' ray apparatus donated to the Victorian Branch of the Australian Medical Association which once belonged to Sir Cecil Colville and a 'Violleta' model also by Sterling. Lastly the museum holds a porcelain phrenology bust from Harold Attwood's collection.

This collection contains a range of medical and scientific instruments of significance to the history of Science in Australia.

Please contact the Medical History Museum, Cultural Collections, University of Melbourne

Please contact the Medical History Museum, Cultural Collections, University of Melbourne

Subjects

AMA; Association; Attwood; Australian; Branch; Cecil; Colville; Harold; Medical; Sir; Sterling; Victorian

Animal structure and function; Medica Equipment; Scarification; Scientific instruments; Scientists; Skin; Social history; Vibrators

Animal structure and function; History; Medical Equipment; Scarification; Scientific instruments; Scientists; Skin; Social; Vibrators

Coverage Spatial

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Coverage Temporal

1840

1960

Related Collections

Dates

2012-05-30 23:43

2011-06-07 09:49