
Collections Corner: Playing Doctor
Most of us remember playing doctor or nurse to an injured doll or teddy bear. When I was a child my Cabbage Patch doll often fell ill and my sisters and I nursed her back to health using a Fisher-Price Medical Kit. Developed over thirty years ago, this toy has stood the test of time and has also evolved several times since its inception. The kit contains everything a young doctor or nurse needs, including a stethoscope, thermometer and a sphygmomanometer, also known as a blood pressure cuff. These colourful children’s versions of the real instruments also helped my parents prepare me for trips to the paediatrician; I learned what to expect through play, which made check-ups and doctors visits much less stressful for all parties involved.

Collections Corner: May I Pre-chew that for you, Sir?
Our teeth are an essential part of our daily lives – we use them to do things like eat and form our words. How healthy are your teeth?

Collections Corner: Waterloo Teeth
Have you ever thought about where dentures come from? Archaeologists have found evidence of denture use dating back to 700 BCE. The best dentures available in Europe before the late 19th century had a carved base and molars of ivory with real human incisors and cuspids.

Collections Corner: Electrostatic Generator
In 2006 the Museum of Health Care received this fascinating artefact donation. This machine generated an electrical charge with the turn of a crank and could be used with various instruments for electrotherapy or to produce x-rays.