MUSEUM BLOG
The Story of Sir Henry Wellcome and the Wellcome Collection
Born in a log cabin in Almond, Wisconsin, in 1853, Henry Wellcome was one of the most influential pharmacological entrepreneurs and an avid collector of medical artefacts.
The Story of Jennie Trout and Women in Medicine
Jennie Kidd Trout was Canada's first female physician licensed to practice and an incredibly respected and impactful activist.
The "Stuff" of Cystic Fibrosis
Since cystic fibrosis (CF) was identified in 1938, tens of thousands have lived with the severe genetic disease. Each experience has been individual, yet common threads run through, most notably experiences of healthcare. People with CF become well-acquainted with the clinic, the hospital, the pharmacy; the need to accommodate at home piles of pill bottles, physio devices, nebulizer set-ups, perhaps home IVs, feeding tubes, oxygen compressors, insulin. The lived experience of everyday life with CF in a large part resides in these objects and their environments.
The Story of Dr. Crawford Long and the Ether Controversy
Born in 1815, Dr. Crawford Long studied medicine and surgery under renowned scholars and had the opportunity to participate in several surgeries. Surgery was a different experience in the early nineteenth century because patients were not sedated and were in excruciating pain throughout the procedure.
The Story of Perry Davis and His Painkiller
Perry Davis (1791–1862) was born in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on July 7, 1791. His parents owned no property and thus did not even show up on tax records at the time of Davis’ birth. By 1837, he had tried, unsuccessfully, to start multiple businesses, leaving him $4500 in debt. In 1840, Davis became so sick that his pain was debilitating. His solution? A mix of alcohol, opiates, and herbs, which would later be dubbed “Perry Davis’ Painkiller.”
The Story of Ann Baillie and Our National Historic Site
As part of the Historic Places Days' challenge to explore the stories connected to our National Historic Site, we present to you the story of our site's namesake through the life of lauded Superintendent of Nurses at KGH, Ann Baillie.
Medicinal Leeches: Still A Bloody Good Idea
Even people who aren’t up on their medical history tend to know at least one fact: old-fashioned medical doctors used leeches. The leech is almost as iconic a symbol of antique medicine as the head lamp or the beak-masked plague doctor.
The Story of Dr. René Laennec and His Stethoscope
Born in 1781 in Brittany, France, Rene Laënnec (1781-1826) was the doctor who invented the stethoscope.
The Story of Dr. Leonidas H. Berry and His Gastroscope
Born in North Carolina in 1902, Dr. Leonidas Berry was one of the leading gastroenterologists of his time. After working as the first black intern at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, he went on to become a junior attending physician at Chicago's Provident Hospital, the first American hospital owned and operated by African-Americans.
Indigenous History Month: Dr. Oronhyatekha
Dr. Oronhyatekha, meaning "Burning Sky" or “Burning Cloud”), also known as Peter Martin, a Kanyen'kehà:ka (Mohawk) became one of the first Indigenous persons in Canada to earn a medical degree on May 22, 1867.