Close-up of electrical or mechanical panel with dials and faded text.

COLLECTIONS

The Canadian Museum of Health Care is home to over 35.000 medical artifacts which depict the evolution of Canada’s medical history. From rare medical instruments and archival photographs to everyday objects that shaped patient care, our holdings preserve the stories of innovation, care, and community across generations. Together, these items connect us to the people and practices that continue to shape health care today

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Collections Catalogue

Devices and Diagnostics

A pocket sputum flask from circa 1920. A sputum flask would have served as a place for those suffering from tuberculosis to spit without spreading disease (Accession Number 19692531).

A pocket sputum flask from circa 1920. A sputum flask would have served as a place for those suffering from tuberculosis to spit without spreading disease (Accession Number 19692531).

A prosthetic leg built in the 1920s for an eastern-Ontario farmer who lost his left leg in an accident. This was one of two legs he used for the rest of his life, this being the "formal" leg he used for special occasions (Accession Number 012011001 a

A prosthetic leg built in the 1920s for an eastern-Ontario farmer who lost his left leg in an accident. This was one of two legs he used for the rest of his life, this being the "formal" leg he used for special occasions (Accession Number 012011001 a-b).

A mid-nineteenth century stethoscope. Unlike modern binaural stethoscopes, early stethoscopes were monaural — using only one ear to listen. This kind of "trumpet" stethoscope is still used to listen to fetal heartbeats and as a backup to modern Doppl

A mid-nineteenth century stethoscope. Unlike modern binaural stethoscopes, early stethoscopes were monaural — using only one ear to listen. This kind of "trumpet" stethoscope is still used to listen to fetal heartbeats and as a backup to modern Doppler monitors (Accession Number 997002010).

Selling Hope

Strychnine pills were used in very small doses in the Victorian period as appetite stimulants and laxatives. A more common use of strychnine was as an ointment to stimulate nerves. Strychnine is more famous now as an incredibly potent poison causing

Strychnine pills were used in very small doses in the Victorian period as appetite stimulants and laxatives. A more common use of strychnine was as an ointment to stimulate nerves. Strychnine is more famous now as an incredibly potent poison causing asphyxiation (Accession Number 997032050).

A glass bottle of Dr. Humphrey's Homeopathic No. 33 pills. Dating from the end of the 19th century, these pills claimed to cure spasms and convulsions with a dosage of six pills every two hours (Accession Number 014002037).

A glass bottle of Dr. Humphrey's Homeopathic No. 33 pills. Dating from the end of the 19th century, these pills claimed to cure spasms and convulsions with a dosage of six pills every two hours (Accession Number 014002037).

A solution of water and benzyl alcohol, this liquid was often used to dissolve other medicines. Those medicines could then be safely injected into a patient. This particular example comes from Montreal circa 1970 (Accession Number 199838).

A solution of water and benzyl alcohol, this liquid was often used to dissolve other medicines. Those medicines could then be safely injected into a patient. This particular example comes from Montreal circa 1970 (Accession Number 199838).

Weird and Wonderful

One in a series of felt medical dolls manufactured by the Klumpe Company in Barcelona, Spain. This particular doll comes from the 1950s and depicts a dentist triumphantly holding up an extracted tooth (Accession Number 009013001).

One in a series of felt medical dolls manufactured by the Klumpe Company in Barcelona, Spain. This particular doll comes from the 1950s and depicts a dentist triumphantly holding up an extracted tooth (Accession Number 009013001).

A "Wappler Cabinet" or High-Frequency Machine was a quack medical device popular around the 1910s. The device generated an electrical current that was applied to patients via an attached wand. Its makers claimed that the Cabinet could cure headaches,

A "Wappler Cabinet" or High-Frequency Machine was a quack medical device popular around the 1910s. The device generated an electrical current that was applied to patients via an attached wand. Its makers claimed that the Cabinet could cure headaches, close wounds, and even "purify" the blood (Accession Number 997002231 a-r).

This is not a severed leg but rather a "moulage" or wax model — in this case it depicts a leg with varicose ulcers. Moulages were used prior to the invention of 3D modeling to instruct medical students and professionals about the appearance of uncomm

This is not a severed leg but rather a "moulage" or wax model — in this case it depicts a leg with varicose ulcers. Moulages were used prior to the invention of 3D modeling to instruct medical students and professionals about the appearance of uncommon illnesses (Accession Number 198582).

Collections Care for Historical Pharmaceuticals

Are you concerned about the pharmaceuticals lurking in your museum collection or in a donation you just received? The Canadian Museum of Health Care has created a resource package filled with fact sheets, tips, and practical demonstrations for handling historical pharmaceuticals, available in both French and English.

Text in black and red displaying 'Financial support from the Government of Canada' and the word 'Canada' with a small Canadian flag.
An antique wooden case containing small glass bottles with cork stoppers, some labeled with old medical or pharmaceutical labels, arranged inside a red velvet-lined interior.
Person wearing blue gloves holding an amber glass bottle filled with red capsules against a plain white background.

Creation of this package was

The Museum of Health Care would like to thank

Our Project Partners:

Michelle Hamilton, PhD, Professor, Public History and Shaelyn Ryan, Curator, Western University

Adam Pollard, Curator of Collection

Advice on items in this package was provided by:

Erin Secord, Manager, Conservation, Ingenium - Canada’s Museum of Science and Innovation

Emily Turgeon-Brunet, Manager of Conservation Science and Preventive Conservation, and Michael Doutre, Conservation Scientist, Parks Canada