Insight into the history of anatomopathological museums – Part 1. From casual assemblages to scientific collections

Abstract

We present a short history of anatomopathological museums in Europe. In the first part we provide an insight into the beginnings from the Renaissance until the middle of the 19 th century. We assess forms of acquisition and exhibition of the specimens concerning the steps of medicine and pathology development. The prototypes were "curiosities of nature" collections starting in the 15 th century. The next milestone collections focusing on the human body were those of Frederik Ruysch in the Netherlands (17 th century). In the 18 th century teachers in surgical and anatomical schools realized the educational power of such collections. Anatomopathology as a separate medical discipline was developing in parallel. At that time museums such as the one established by Honoré Fragonard in Paris, the Hunterian in Glasgow and Narrenturm in Vienna were created. At Polish universities in Cracow and Vilnius, such museums were beginning to emerge at the beginning of the 19 th century. Anatomopathological collections became more popular, gathering specimens: osteological, dry and mummified, as well as wet -embedded in alcohol, formalin, and mysterious mixtures. They provide a wealth of important data for scientific, medical, historical and even ethical areas, as well as methods and concepts of conservation and even recreation of human body parts.

An insight into the history of anatomopathological museums. Part 2

“…Eventually the narrowing of the scope of collections followed with assemblages in osteopathology, dermatopathology, teratology, or brain banks. Scientific societies tried to create their own expositions either from the very beginning or by acquiring already existing entities founded earlier by wealthy scientists, such as William (1718-1783) and John Hunter (1728-1793) [1,8].…”

“…The museum houses a collection of 19 th century models of lymphatic vessels and an ample collection of plates with anatomical drawings, including a few by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Some of the rooms are arranged as reconstructions of dissection theatres, laboratories, and study environments, as catalogued in 1865 [1,14,15].…”

“…We present the second part of an insight into the history of anatomopathological museums [1], analysing their complex phenomenon from the middle of the 19 th century up to now. The pathology collections and museums beginning from the 16 th century are strictly connected with the history of autopsy, being a multidimensional element in the progress of anatomy, pathology, and medicine as a whole.…”

“…This stage was followed by the era of noting, and registering and collecting pathological findings and publishing them in specilegia -asssemblages of autopsy reports [3], the first attempts at understanding the process of disease and demise, ending with the publication of De sedibus et causis morborum per anatomen indagatis by Morgagni in 1761. The collections underwent transformation from assemblages of curiosities, through the stage of mainly medical exhibits, later to become more sophisticated and specialised, based on specimens acquired during autopsies and/or surgical procedures [1]. Many methods of fixation were developed through the centuries, starting from simple osteological specimens, and then wet specimens in glass jars and tubes, preserved in alcohol or even honey, as well as dried exhibits.…”

“…Later collections were enriched with drawings, then photographs, and finally with full medical documentation. Pathologies were also copied in models, first in stone, bone, wood, and ivory, and later in wax (ceroplastics), as well as models made of plaster and papier-mâché [1,4].…”