The Science and Art of Medicine

A woven string bag containing objects used for divination. The bag contains thirty-six objects including animal bones, pebbles, nut kernels and a hoof, each of which means something specific to a diviner. The objects are thrown onto a mat and the pat

• Bag with objects for divination, Africa, 1880-1930

A set of four divination plaques on a string, used by the Mashona people of Zimbabwe. Mashona diviners use only red ivorywood for their plaques, as they believe it is the only wood that tells the truth. It is the royal wood of KwaZulu Natal and is n

• Four divination plaques on a string, Zimbabwe, 1880–1920

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

An amuletic necklace made of horn, claw, nuts and metal, strung together on a leather thong. It is common to put medicine in an animal horn, and necklace charms are often worn around the neck as protection against illness and ill fortune.

• Amuletic necklace, West Africa, 1880-1920

A set of palm nuts usually kept in the blue cloth bag. Diviners of the Yoruba people of Nigeria pass sixteen palm nuts from hand to hand eight times. Each time, one or two nuts are kept in the hand and this is marked on a board. The diviner reads t

• Palm nuts with blue cloth bag, Nigeria, 1880–1920

A carved wooden medicine box with hinged lid and fabric carrying strap. Although now empty, the contents are unknown. Knowledge about the healing properties of plants is considered secret in many African societies – only to be passed on to the next g

• Carved wooden medicine box, Africa, c. 1801-1920.

Bronze statue of Louis Pasteur, full length and holding a flask in his left hand, signed Galli

• Louis Pasteur, French chemist and microbiologist, c. 1870-1890.

Gold angel, used as a touchpiece in the ceremony of healing by touch, mint mark in form of a castle, 2nd or 3rd coinage, issued by James I, 1603-1625

• Jacobean touchpieces, English, 1610-1625.

Stereotaxic apparatus, brass, used by Sir Victor Horsley and Richard Clarke, made by Swift and Son, London. The following two items are connected with this object: 1) Sir Victor Horsley's laboratory notebook 1904-1905 containing records (written and

• Brass stereotaxic apparatus, English, c. 1905.

Balasegarams liver retractor, stainless steel, by Downs Surgical Ltd., England.

• Balasegarams liver retractor, 1980.