History of Medicine Collection: Roman & Medieval

We have a a plate of two pages from a thirteenth century ophthalmology maunscript in our History of Medicine Collection. It has been loaned to our collection by Emilie Savage-Smith, retired Professor of the History of Islamic Science.

It shows the instruments required by a thirteenth century ophthalmologist, as illustrated in The Sufficient Book on Ophthalmology, written in Syria between 1257 and 1275 by Khalifah ibn al-Mahasin as-Halabi.

The top row (right to left) illustrates three types of scissors, two tools for keeping eyelids open, a sheathed scalpel, various hooks, four cauterising tools, a probe, and small forceps. The middle row contains four instruments for excising cysts and other growths, a small hatchet for phlebotomy, a razor knife, two lancets, a round and hollow cataract needle, a narrow tube for uprooting tumours and a hook and needle. The bottom row includes additional forms of lancets and scrapers, along with tweezers for removing foreign bodies, and various tools for dispensing eye ointments.

Listen to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster, talk about the history of Islamic Medicine here:

We have a small bronze spatula for applying eye medication in our History of Medicine Collection. It has been loaned to our collection by Emilie Savage-Smith, retired Professor of the History of Islamic Science.

It was found in an archaeological dig in Lebanon in 1990. The design is typical of eye probes or spatulas in use from Greek and Roman times and in the Middle East until modern times.

Listen to Professor Jim Al-Khalili, theoretical physicist, author and broadcaster, talk about the history of Islamic Medicine here:

We have a replica of a bladder-shaped votive offering in our History of Medicine Collection. It is a copy of an original in the Science Museum's Wellcome Collection which dates to 200 AD.

These sorts of objects were left at healing sanctuaries and other religious sites as offerings to gods such as Asklepios, the Greco-Roman god of medicine. It was intended either to indicate the part of the body that needed help or to thank the god for a cure. They were made from bronze or terracotta. A large range of different votive body parts were made and offered up. Thousands have been found at archaeological sites. 

You can listen to Professor Helen King, Professor Emerita of Ancient Medicine, Open University, talking about votive offerings here:

We have a cupping vessel in our History of Medicine Collection. It is a replica model of an original in the Science Museum.

The original is a bronze cupping vessel, from Pompeii, Roman, 1-79AD. Cupping was an ancient therapy intended to restore the balance of the body. It remained popular in the Western world until the 19th century.

Wet and dry cupping could be carried out. Dry cupping involved placing the suction cups on the skin. Wet cupping was a form of bloodletting that involved first making an incision on the skin, then applying the suction cups to suck out small amounts of blood. 

You can listen to Professor Helen King, Professor Emerita of Ancient Medicine, Open University, talking about cupping vessels here:

These small stone stamps were used for marking semi-solid sticks of eye-ointment (called "collyria") before they hardened. The edges of the stamp are engraved with abbreviated Latin inscriptions in reverse. When stamped into the ointment, the impressions could be read correctly. This example has the name of Titus Vindacius Ariovistus, probably the maker of the ointments, and names that would identify different types: 'nard-oil salve', 'green-salve', 'infallible salve' and 'frankincense salve'. The name 'Senior' cut into top surface may be that of a healer who used the stamp and ointments.

You can listen to Professor Helen King, Professor Emerita of Ancient Medicine, Open University, talking about oculist stamps here:

We have ten replica medieval glass uroscopy flasks in our History Department Collection.

Uroscopy is the examination of urine to diagnose medical conditions. Its use has been recorded from as early as 4000 BC, and it became common practice in ancient Greece. It became especially popular in medieval times, until it was eventually was replaced with more accurate methods during the early modern period. In modern medicine, visual examination of a patient's urine may provide preliminary evidence for a diagnosis, but is generally limited to conditions that specifically affect the urinary system itself, such as urinary tract and kidney infections.

Pregnancy and diabetes are two diagnoses that uroscopy, although out of favour with medical professionals, has a good rate of predicting.

Listen to Carole Rawcliffe, emeritus Professor of Medieval History at the University of East Anglia, talk about uroscopy here:

Listen to Dr James Hannam, historian of the relationship between science and religion, talk about medicine in the Medieval Era here: