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

Piotr Paluchowski; Jacek Gulczyński; Adam Szarszewski; Bartłomiej Siek; Jacek Halasz; Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska

doi:10.5114/pjp.2016.63771

eISSN: 2084-9869
ISSN: 1233-9687

Polish Journal of Pathology

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3/2016
vol. 67

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abstract:

Original paper

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

Piotr Paluchowski

¹

,

Jacek Gulczyński

²

,

Adam Szarszewski

¹

,

Bartłomiej Siek

¹

,

Jacek Halasz

¹

,

Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska

^{2, 3}

Department of History and Philosophy of Medical Science, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
Department of Pathomorphology, COPERNICUS, Gdańsk, Poland

Pol J Pathol 2016; 67 (3): 207-215

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pjp.2016.63771

Online publish date: 2016/11/25

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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 19th 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 15th century. The next milestone collections focusing on the human body were those of Frederik Ruysch in the Netherlands (17th century). In the 18th 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 19th 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.

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

Piotr Paluchowski 1 , Jacek Gulczyński 2 , Adam Szarszewski 1 , Bartłomiej Siek 1 , Jacek Halasz 1 , Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska 2, 3

anatomopathological museums, history of pathology, autopsy, anatomy, Kunstkamera

Piotr Paluchowski

¹

,

Jacek Gulczyński

²

,

Adam Szarszewski

¹

,

Bartłomiej Siek

¹

,

Jacek Halasz

¹

,

Ewa Iżycka-Świeszewska

^{2, 3}