Beautiful Eyeballs
The Science Museum's online History of Medicine exhibition has as you might expect plenty of curious objects - like mole hands from Norfolk that warded off cramp:
mummified birds:
and eye-catching good-luck amulets:
What's surprising is how attractive some of the trappings of illness were - elegant bronchitis kettles:
Staffordshire feeding cups for invalids:
Backrests for the bedbound:
Smart medicine chests:
Containing all kinds of delicious-looking medicine:
Of course, anything can look appealing if it's presented in the right sort of case:
See also:
Comments
INCREDIBLE. What amazing design!
Posted by: Amber | March 9, 2009 7:09 AM
I like the eyeballs the best. Do they have them in smokey bacon flavour do you think?
Posted by: rampageguy | April 17, 2009 3:12 PM
The turn of the century had such interesting stuff. I wish modern pieces had that attention to detail.
Posted by: Gabriel Gadfly | April 24, 2009 9:22 PM
The invalid feeding cup may be a mustache protecting teacup. Men used to wax their mustaches and the steam from the tea would melt the wax, so they devised cups with covered parts to prevent such things from happening.
Posted by: BridgeTroll | April 25, 2009 1:17 AM
Interesting suggestion - it does have a moustache sort of shape to it, now I come to look at it
Posted by: Emma | April 25, 2009 11:11 AM
I think you will find a moustache cup didnt have a spout but more of a shield.
Pic here
http://www.silvercollection.it/dictionarymustachecup.html
Posted by: Sueper | April 26, 2009 12:46 AM
What a great collection of neat old stuff, I would love to go and see this exhibit. Great post thanks for sharing
Posted by: Niceh Pro | April 26, 2009 2:38 AM
Wow, that is interesting. Jimbo
Posted by: Anonymous | April 27, 2009 5:35 AM
I sincerely wish You and Your dearest to use some of this interesting stuff yourself in future.
I hope You'll then share with us more funny expiriences.
Posted by: Dejan | May 2, 2009 9:41 PM
This seems a very spiteful comment.
I'm certainly not making fun of people being ill - just noting a historical difference in people's approach to illness.
Posted by: Emma | May 3, 2009 11:19 AM
I likey.
Posted by: smj | May 19, 2009 2:14 AM
Interesting. Where can I get a box of eyes?
Posted by: Story Starters | July 16, 2009 3:01 AM