Surgeons' Hall Museums

11/03/2025

This is a Septal occluder. If a patient has a hole in the heart, a device like this can be inserted via a catheter during minimally invasive surgery. Once in the hole, it is opened up like a double sided umbrella either side of the atrial wall sealing the defect.

10/03/2025

Guillotine tonsillectomy instrument was considered to be a quick and reliable method for safely removing tonsils. The enlarged tonsil was captured in the circular space at the front, and as the blade was pushed forwards, severing the tonsil. By the 1940s, thousands of children every year were undergoing routine tonsillectomies, as it was believed that removing the tonsils would prevent other ailments. Today tonsillectomies are only performed if antibiotics have not been effective in treating recurrent infections.

07/03/2025

Welcome back John's Coffee House & Tavern!

The College Archivist came across this receipt dated 1772 for the original John's Coffeehouse for an order made by members of the Society of Barbers, which came to five pounds, five shillings!

06/03/2025

We're back with a bumper spring events programme!

In March, RCSEd Library and Archive will be offering the opportunity to view some of their rare collections not on display to the public. The Library and Archive will also be joined by Tom Wood in May for a talk about the Ruxton case which he describes in his book as the first modern murder.

Our Lunch Time Talk series will continue with talks on 'Gray's Anatomy', Anna Morandi Manzolini and Elsie Inglis.

In June, we will be hosting Ambrose Parry for the launch of their new book 'The Death of Shame'. Later in June we will be joined by forensic anthropologist Dr. Robert Mann to discuss how he has assisted in helping solve police cases around the world.

We will also be hosting our first 'teen take-over'- a special bespoke after hours event for ages 12-18.

Full information can be found on our website: https://museum.rcsed.ac.uk/news-and-events/events

05/03/2025

For our this week we are looking for a name you would find in our History of Surgery Museum.

28/02/2025

The second instalment of our new podcast is now available!
Join Anesthetist and Author Marisa Hertzman as she discusses how she found inspiration in the renowned Victorian Obstetrician Sir James Young Simpson. Hear about how the exceptional life of Sir Simpson, from his professional successes to his infamous dinner parties, inspired the historic fiction of award winning writing duo Ambrose Parry.
The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts!
https://shows.acast.com/beyond-the-knife/episodes/sir-james-young-simpson?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0z_4EVsFBAR38uqyVfTqfpItU6A1Ap5Wlbo9nAZx4tsOFx4NDYe0lo1Ls_aem_VS5IKNp9ZFU0Wghl18bVOQ

27/02/2025

For the second instalment of our Fashion Victims series Professor Ken Donaldson looks at the dangers of long hair around moving machinery.

For the second part of our Fashion Victims series Professor Ken Donaldson looks at the dangers of long hair around moving machinery. Please note: This post contains images of human remains that som…

26/02/2025

Our final comes from our Techniques and Technology gallery. Can you solve the anagram?

24/02/2025

This bladder stone was "cut by Jer. Callot from Thomas Murray at Paris, 8th May 1676" Removing bladder stones was very dangerous as surgeons had to cut into the perineum and then into the bladder. Survivors often kept the stone as a memento like this one.

21/02/2025

This is an Aspirateur de Dieulafoy. It is a suction pump used to remove fluid from the pleura. It was designed by French physician and surgeon Paul Georges Dieulafoy (1839 –1911).
You may have heard of Dieulafoy's lesion, a rare cause of gastric bleeding.

20/02/2025

Two Liston amputation knives made by Young & Sons, Edinburgh in the mid-19th century. Engraved on the lid is the name of the owner: "Dr. James D. Gillespie". James D. Gillespie, M.D., FRSEd, was a contemporary of James Syme, & Assistant Surgeon to the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh.

19/02/2025

For our this week we are looking for a word you would find in our History of Surgery gallery.

Can you work out what it is?

17/02/2025

This letter opener is reportedly made from wood taken from serial killer William Hare's house. It has the inscription: "made from wood from Hare's house who murdered "Daft Jamie" in West Port of Edinburgh 1828. Burke hanged in January 1829".

15/02/2025

Looking for something to do with the kids this half term?

We'll be holding a skeleton reconstruction drop-in session on Monday. Come along and reconstruct a plastic teaching skeleton.

https://buff.ly/4hwGnLu

14/02/2025

This wooden mouth gag from the nineteenth century, would have been inserted in a gap between the teeth & screwed so that the patient opened their mouth. With the gag in place the mouth stayed open, this was particularly useful if the patient had a condition such as lockjaw.

13/02/2025

Our Collections Officer, Danielle Dray, explores the history of the Royal Army Dental Corps in this new blog.

You can read it here: https://buff.ly/3Ql8L7e

12/02/2025

For our this week we are looking for a phrase you would find in our Wohl Pathology museum.

Can you solve the anagram?

10/02/2025

Lord Joseph Lister died in 1912, he was 84. Due to his pioneering antiseptic techniques Lister is often referred to as the father of modern surgery. These medals were struck in 1913 to commemorate his contributions to medical science.