The Science and Art of Medicine

A stick of moxibustion herbs wrapped in paper. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, moxibustion treatment gives heat to a point on the body, which makes qi energy flow smoothly. The herbs can be burned on or close to the skin, or on top of acu

• Moxibustion stick, China, 1988

Elaborate posset pot, tin glazed earthenware, cherub and songbird motifs, English

• Posset pot, English, c 1700.

Collection of drugs from India. Glass bottle of Kulzam with a stopper and metal foil wrapper, boxed with instructions and plastic pipette; 14 small pills of Agrikuma rasa in a sealable plastic bag; tin of 100 Habb-e-kabid Noshadari pills used for in

• 'Good Morning' lung tonic, late 20th century.

These are short obstetrical forceps, following the design of the English surgeon William Smellie, 1697-1763, which he described in 1751. The forcep blades are designed with two curves, the cephalic curve to fit the child�s head and the pelvic curve t

• Smellie's obstetrical forceps, 18th century

This pocket set contains the following equipment: forceps, catheter, director and scoop, thread, and 3 bottles - one full. It was manufactured by Coxeter, London, and was used in attempts to control post partum bleeding. The forceps and thread were f

• Haemostatic set, 1871-1900.

A wooden figure in the form of Eshu, a god of the Yoruba people of Nigeria. In Yoruba tradition, Eshu is described as a figure of trickery and surprise. In common with other depictions of Eshu, he is seen here playing a flute.

• Wooden figure representing the god Eshu, Nigeria, 1880-1920

Pale green glass balloon retort, long neck, projecting stopper hole, hand blown, possibly Italian, 1650-1800

• Glass retort, Italian, 1650-1800.

A bronze acupuncture training model used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for teaching the position of acupuncture points on the body. The model was covered in a thick layer of wax and filled with water or mercury. Students pressed acupuncture needl

• Acupuncture training model, China, 1725-1730

Cupping set, incomplete, comprises one scarificator, three cupping glasses, one bottle, one canister, one kettle(?), used by Edward Jenner, late 18th century, in mahogany case. This is ordinary equipment all surgeons would have owned. The English doc

• Cupping set used by Edward Jenner, c 1800.

Barber surgeon's, double sided carved and painted wooden plaque with images of Death and Time and scene of blood letting

• Barber-surgeon's sign, 1680-1830, England