Medicine - Ghislaine Lawrence

Henry Solomon Wellcome (1853-1936) became sole proprietor of Burroughs Wellcome and Co. in 1895, and over many years collected objects dealing with medical history, from ancient amulets to surgical instruments and microscopes. This collection, the largest of its kind in the world, is on permanent loan to the Science Museum, London, which has continued its acquisition of objects related to medicine and health. In this book Ghislaine Lawrence selects and interprets about 100 significant items from the Museum's unrivalled collection -- such as anatomical figures, leech jars, prosthetic limbs, medicine chests, a kidney machine, an MRI scanner -- placing them in their historical context and drawing out common themes. This book is often revealing and always fascinating.