Collections Corner: Playing Doctor

Most of us remember playing doctor or nurse to an injured doll or teddy bear. When I was a child my Cabbage Patch doll often fell ill and my sisters and I nursed her back to health using a Fisher-Price Medical Kit. Developed over thirty years ago, this toy has stood the test of time [...]

Raising Awareness about Tuberculosis – World TB Day, 24 March 2012 Pt. 1

What is TB? Tuberculosis is caused by an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, rod-shaped bacteria that are spread mostly through air-born droplets or dust micro-particles of dried sputum.  Once inhaled, the body’s immune system typically reacts by engulfing the bacteria, forming a tubercle that contains the bacteria to help keep it from spreading.  In most cases, [...]

Collections Corner: May I Pre-chew that for you, Sir?

Our teeth are an essential part of our daily lives – we use them to do things like eat and form our words. How healthy are your teeth? Today, there are many things we can do to protect our teeth – brush twice a day, floss and visit your friendly neighbourhood dentist every six months. [...]

A Century Gone – Sir Joseph Lister, Bt. (1827-1912): Antisepsis and the beginnings of Modern Surgical Medicine

Sir Joseph Lister, Bt. was born 1827 in Essex, England.  He graduated from University College, London, with a Bachelor of Medicine in 1852 and, at age 26, entered the Royal College of Surgeons.  Shortly thereafter, he moved to Edinburgh to pursue his career and practice.  In 1860 he accepted the position of Chair of Clinical [...]

Collections Corner: Waterloo Teeth

Have you ever thought about where dentures come from? Archaeologists have found evidence of denture use dating back to 700 BCE and there have been many manifestations since, but their purpose has never really changed. Dentures were, and still are, used to replace teeth for both functional and aesthetic purposes. Early dentures were carved out [...]

Collections Corner: Electrostatic Generator

In 2006 the Museum of Health Care received this fascinating artefact donation from Elizabeth McMahon, the granddaughter of Dr. Frank Mellow who used the machine in his home office in Uxbridge, Ontario. The machine generated an electrical charge with the turn of a crank and could be used with various instruments for electrotherapy or to produce [...]

Weekly Photo Challenge: Self Portrait

To open up the Museum of Health Care’s artefact collection we are participating in WordPress’ Weekly Photo Challenge. Based on WordPress’ randomly chosen themes, we’ll offer a serendipitous peek into our collection. Check in each week for a new curiosity. Read about the Ann Baillie Building National Historic Site. Click here to search the Museum’s collection [...]

15 years later… Remembering Nancy Malloy

As the recently appointed Assistant Curator at the Museum of Health Care, I am constantly finding out new and fascinating things about the objects in our collections and the broader history of health care that underpins them.  I also have the privilege of learning about the men and women who forged careers in medical science [...]

Weekly Photo Challenge: Celebration

To open up the Museum of Health Care’s artefact collection we are participating in WordPress’ Weekly Photo Challenge. Based on WordPress’ randomly chosen themes, we’ll offer a serendipitous peek into our collection. Check in each week for a new curiosity. A black and white photograph of a group of nursing students dressed up for their [...]

Weekly Photo Challenge: Waiting

To open up the Museum of Health Care’s artefact collection we are participating in WordPress’ Weekly Photo Challenge. Based on WordPress’ randomly chosen themes, we’ll offer a serendipitous peek into our collection. Check in each week for a new curiosity. Advertising clock sign, 1905-1915. Accession #004004006. Click here to search the Museum’s collection online.