Collections

Items of historical interest on display include microscopes and other scientific instruments, early bleeding and cupping equipment including an exquisitely crafted incision knife, ceramic pharmacy jars dating back to the 17th century, an exquisite collection of bone china and ceramic feeding cups, some dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, an early 19th century wooden handled amputation set in a wooden case, diagnostic and surgical instruments which include items such as stethoscopes, sphygmomanometers and X-ray equipment; treatment apparatus, including electrical apparatus advertised as ?Patent magnetic electrical machine for nervous diseases? used by Queen Victoria to ease her rheumatism (19th century) and the first electrocardiograph machine (1917) used in the Johannesburg General Hospital, early anaesthetic apparatus including chloroform bottle and mask in leather case, ear trumpets and brass ear syringes (early 20th century), equipment relating to cardiology which include early portable ECG machines and different generations of heart lung machines; hospital and nursing equipment and medical ephemera; obstetric and gynaecological instruments such as forceps, cranial crushers and specula; and a significant ophthalmology section which includes optical lenses, colour-blindness test kits, stereoscopes, spectacles, ophthalmoscopes and surgical instruments.

There are also documents, sculptures, pictures, photographs, videos and philatelic and medallion collections relating to medical history.

The Museum has a library of rare books as well as a history of medicine reference library containing some 5 000 volumes.

Study collection

This consists of objects and other items which are either in relatively poor condition or represent unnecessary duplication of items in the permanent collection. This collection is used for educational purposes and demonstrations to groups of all ages.