Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
 

 
Medicine Man: The Forgotten Museum of Henry Wellcome

Henry Wellcome, the great entrepreneur and philanthropist, also built up the world's largest collection of medical exhibits. By his death in 1936, he had amassed an extraordinary collection of over one million objects related to medical history, ranging from diagnostic dolls and Japanese sex aids to African masks and amputation saws, from amulets and ancient manuscripts to Napoleon's toothbrush and George III's hair. Their exhibition brings together the treasures of this vast collection and explores the history of our bodies, in sickness and in health.

 

Fakirs Sandals (Indian 1871-1920)
Fakirs are religious beggars who achieve spiritual enlightenment through control of their physical sensations. Fakirs are often depicted lying on a bed of nails or walking across hot coals. These sandals have iron spikes and wooden toe pegs.

This mummy was naturally preserved. It comes from the north coast of Peru where the Chimu culture buried their dead in 'mummy bundles'. Mummy bundles such as this would have been buried with personal possessions, ritual objects and food offerings, indicating a belief in existence after death.
Ladies, cross your legs and thank your mother, god, Buddha, whoever, that you were born in more modern times. These are early 19th century gynaecological tools. I left the man in the background to give you an idea of their size.