Inkstand used by Dr. Anna Honzáková MUDr. Anna Honzáková (1875-1940) was the first woman graduate of the Czech Medical Faculty in Prague, on March 17, 1902. In 1895 she graduated from the first women’s high school in Central Europe, the Minerva High School in Prague. She applied to the Czech Medical Faculty, but was denied […]
Eye Forceps after Johann Nepomuk Fischer The small iris forceps, used above all for surgical creation of an artificial pupil (coromorphosis) was designed by Professor Johann Nepomuk Fischer (1777- 1847), the founder and the first Chair of the Ophthalmological Clinic in Prague (1818). In these days, the Department of Ophthalmology of the First Faculty of […]
The Manuscript of “Equine Medicine” (Lékařství koňská) The National Medical Library Rare Prints Collection, held in the Medical Museum, includes a number of manuscript texts on both human and veterinary medicine. Transcriptions of medieval and early modern recipes are often complemented from other sources and empirical knowledge of readers and copyists. The anonymous manuscript on Equine […]
Tin Hot Water Bottle, 18 – early 19 Century Containers for bed warming have been known in Europe since 1520s. Hot water bottles covered with fabric and placed on the body, were introduced in the 18 century: the earliest evidence of a tin hot water bottle comes from 1694. Often made of tin, later copper, brass […]
Midwife diploma of Anna Semerad, Prague, 1882 The Medical Faculty supervised the competence of midwives since the 1651 decree of Ferdinand III. Since 1748, future midwives had to pass an examination before the Dean and two senior professors. This ordinance applied at first to Prague and later to all cities, since 1804 the Faculty examined […]
Petz Surgical Stapler modified by Neuffer, Aesculap (sold by Brothers Cizek, Prague), 1935-1945 The use of staplers in surgery begun in the early 20th century. The first surgical sewing machines were operated with one hand and user primarily to close skin wounds. In 1908, the Hungarian surgeon Homer Hültl (1868-1940) presented his „apparatus for suturing […]
Albarello, a ceramic pharmacy vessel Double-belly jar for preserving ointments, with a wide grooved rim for fastening a leather or parchment lid, probably Italy, 18 century Dark brown Egyptian ointment (unguento aegiciaco, Kupfersauerhonig) was produced by mixing vinegar, raw honey and verdigris and boiling the mixture over mild fire. The ointment had to be stored in a closed vessel […]
Set of corrective lenses, France, late 19 century (NML Medical Museum, Inv. N. P 202) Alphonse Giroux (1775-1848) was an art restorer, known also as a maker and seller of luxury furniture. He bequeathed his company to his son in 1838: Alphonse- Gustav Giroux (1809-1886), an optician, expanded the offer by optical instruments including ophthalmoscopes. In […]
230 Anniversary of the birth of Jan Evangelista Purkyně (December 17 1787 Libochovice – July 28 1869 Prague) Czech Medical Students’ Association Medal designed by Otakar Španiel (1881-1955), issued in 1937 to commemorate the 150 birthday of Jan Evangelista Purkyně and to celebrate 50 years of the Purkyne Endowment Fund (NML Medical Museum Numismatic Collection, M 641) […]