Highlights From the Warren Anatomical Museum

The collections inside this museum hold intriguing objects that tell the story of 19th century American medicine

  • By Brian Wolly
  • Smithsonian.com, January 01, 2010
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Comments (7)

I think the most important/interesting piece at the museum is the skull of Phineus Gage and the tamping rod that was blow through it.

This 1862 anatomical preparation of six muscles radiating from the second cervical vertebra was indicative of how medicine was taught at the time, and is a classic example of the types of objects found at the Warren today.

Very interesting. But I'm stuck:

What is the "anatomical preparation" in the first photo?

A couple decades back I arranged a tour for some friends, art teachers, and librarians. The museum was tiny even then but fascinating as was the curator, a former art major. Warren's skeleton was kept in a cabinet, but a few brooms had found their way there as well. Anyway, one of the guys FAINTED! That was the best. Good to know I maybe able to visit again.

A simple google search would've answered your questions:

Warren Anatomical Museum
10 Shattuck St.
Boston, MA 02115

Exhibition Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM,
except Harvard University Holidays.
Phone: 617.432.6196 • Fax: 617.432.4737

Yes, indeed, I also wonder in what city the museum is located. Boston or Cambridge? Washington D.C.? La Paz, Bolivia? (;-)

ARTYICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF MUSEUM ADDRESS AND HOURS OPEN TO PUBLIC ACCOMPANIED IT SO ONE COULD DO THEIR OWN FOLLOW-UP



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Mounted anatomical preparation by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., 1862 Glass microscope slide, prepared by Holmes, 1888 (10x magnification) Phrenology cast of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1810 Demonstration and surgery kit, 1868 Brass carbolic acid atomizer for antiseptic surgery, late 19th century Wooden model of Ake Pelvis, right femur, and dislocated left femur Five of a series of ten plaster hand cast created by brain surgery pioneer Harvey Cushing of his surgical peers, 1920s Half-life size plaster models of Norma and Norman

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