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
(Warren Anatomical Museum)
In one of the earliest medical malpractice cases in American history, Maine resident Charles Lowell dislocated his hip when thrown from his horse in 1821 and later sued his doctors. After complaining of pain in his left hip, Lowell went to see Dr. John Faxon and Dr. Micajah Hawkes, who manipulated his leg back into place and told Lowell to rest for a month.
Once that time passed, they noticed that his hip was dislocated. According to the Warren Museum’s records, “Lowell’s left leg stood out from his body and his foot was everted.” Told by Hawkes that there was no way to fix his hip, Lowell “erupted in anger and swore vengeance on the physicians who had ruined him.”
Lowell traveled to Boston to see Dr. John Collins Warren, a well-known surgeon at the time, but he and his colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital were unsuccessful in repairing his leg. Lowell filed a lawsuit against Faxon and Hawkes in Maine three times without resolution, with the court concluding that because there was no medical consensus on the proper treatment, the two doctors had been “professional and competent.” It is only after Lowell died that the correct diagnosis was made.
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.
Posted by Shawn Winter on December 3,2012 | 05:22 PM
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.
Posted by Patricia on February 4,2010 | 03:15 PM
Very interesting. But I'm stuck:
What is the "anatomical preparation" in the first photo?
Posted by Beth Lynch on January 28,2010 | 09:56 PM
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.
Posted by Virginia Kropas on January 12,2010 | 09:43 PM
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
Posted by Mark on January 12,2010 | 02:54 PM
Yes, indeed, I also wonder in what city the museum is located. Boston or Cambridge? Washington D.C.? La Paz, Bolivia? (;-)
Posted by D W SCOTT on January 10,2010 | 05:18 PM
ARTYICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER IF MUSEUM ADDRESS AND HOURS OPEN TO PUBLIC ACCOMPANIED IT SO ONE COULD DO THEIR OWN FOLLOW-UP
Posted by GARY MININSOHN on January 7,2010 | 02:02 PM