MUSEUM BLOG
Explore our blog to learn about pieces from Canada’s largest collection of medical artifacts, discover the lesser-known history of health care, or hear about all of the exciting developments at the Canadian Museum of Health Care.
The Story of Dr. Guilford B. Reed and his Influenza Vaccine
With the help of two research assistants, Dr. Reed developed a flu vaccine from the bacteria in naso-pharyngeal swabs of people infected with the Spanish Flu.
Smallpox - A Short History of Vaccination (Part 1)
After all, smallpox was declared eradicated from the world in 1980. “Eradicated” meaning it has been destroyed completely in nature. No one gets smallpox today. It is the only human virus that is confined to the history books, but how did smallpox become a thing of the past?
The Story of Ernest Hanna and His Prosthetic Legs
Around the year 1931, when he was thirty-five years old, Ernest was involved in an accident while driving a horse and carriage (or sleigh!), when his horse bolted and Ernest sustained a compound fracture of his left femur. His wounds became infected and Ernest was forced to have his leg amputated.
Social Media and Pandemic Pandemonium
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even TikTok have been enormous COVID-19 information and communication resources during this pandemic. In this blog, we’re going to explore the differences between them and the advantages and disadvantages that accompany being one of their daily users.
