Tweet
I catalogued a very interesting book called Human Anatomy: Stereoscopic Images of Medical Specimens by Jim Naughten. ISBN: 978-3-791-38329-3
It seems that the process for making Stereoscopic photographs was invented in the 1830s, and the preparation of medical specimens for instructional purposes predates that, so it wasn't long before medical schools put the two together.
This photographer went to a Dutch museum which holds over five thousand antique medical specimens, photographed a number from the early 19th century into the 20th century, provided two images of each specimen, and provided his book with a viewer frame and eyepieces on heavy cardboard. When viewed properly, the two images fuse to present one three-dimensional image.
Some of the specimens are of rare deformities, others of foetuses, still others of cross-sections of the human face with flesh cut away to reveal muscles. Be forewarned if such things upset you, but it is interesting to see what sort of instructional aids the medical schools of the Victorian age used, and to consider the Ripper and Torso Mysteries.
It seems that the process for making Stereoscopic photographs was invented in the 1830s, and the preparation of medical specimens for instructional purposes predates that, so it wasn't long before medical schools put the two together.
This photographer went to a Dutch museum which holds over five thousand antique medical specimens, photographed a number from the early 19th century into the 20th century, provided two images of each specimen, and provided his book with a viewer frame and eyepieces on heavy cardboard. When viewed properly, the two images fuse to present one three-dimensional image.
Some of the specimens are of rare deformities, others of foetuses, still others of cross-sections of the human face with flesh cut away to reveal muscles. Be forewarned if such things upset you, but it is interesting to see what sort of instructional aids the medical schools of the Victorian age used, and to consider the Ripper and Torso Mysteries.