Operatory 5

I am a dental student with a great appreciation for the curious and mildly terrifying history of medicine, as well as a monster and special effects makeup aficionado.

[operatory5]

From the plaque: 

Meet Mr. Hurt, a new head and neck trauma teaching model. Another in our growing series of Patient-Simulators.

From Medical Plastics Laboratory, Inc. Gatesville, Texas

This lovely item was discovered in one of my old dental school classrooms. The company, MPL, originated in the 1950s due to the closure of the human bone trade as a source for quality medical education tools. I can only imagine this model is one of the first in it’s line. The last image is of a newer model in better condition. 

[mortem-et-necromantia-deactivat]

[mindblowingfactz]

In 1942 a British forest guard in India made an alarming discovery. Some 16,000 feet above sea level, at the bottom of a small valley, was a frozen lake absolutely full of skeletons. -Source

[libertarian--princess-deactivat]

A photo of the incident

[opabinia-regalis-deactivated201]

The skeletons are not even the weird part.

“As it turns out, all the bodies date to around 850 AD. DNA evidence indicates that there were two distinct groups of people, one a family or tribe of closely related individuals, and a second smaller, shorter group of locals, likely hired as porters and guides. Rings, spears, leather shoes, and bamboo staves were found, leading experts to believe that the group was comprised of pilgrims heading through the valley with the help of the locals.All the bodies had died in a similar way, from blows to the head. However, the short deep cracks in the skulls appeared to be the result not of weapons, but rather of something rounded. The bodies also only had wounds on their heads, and shoulders as if the blows had all come from directly above. What had killed them all, porter and pilgrim alike?Among Himalayan women there is an ancient and traditional folk song. The lyrics describe a goddess so enraged at outsiders who defiled her mountain sanctuary that she rained death upon them by flinging hailstones “hard as iron.” After much research and consideration, the 2004 expedition came to the same conclusion. All 200 people died from a sudden and severe hailstorm.Trapped in the valley with nowhere to hide or seek shelter, the “hard as iron” cricket ball-sized [about 23 centimeter/9 inches circumference] hailstones came by the thousands, resulting in the travelers’ bizarre sudden death. The remains lay in the lake for 1,200 years until their discovery.”

[biomedicalephemera]

Fig 2: Gunshot Fracture of Lower Jaw and Cranium

An American Text-Book of Surgery for Practitioners and Students. Edited by William Keen and J. William White. 1894.

[museum-of-artifacts]

A restorer carries the plaster cast of a child from Pompeii that perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. http://museum-of-artifacts.blogspot.com/2015/11/herculaneum-dead-do-tell-talles.html

[secretsciartarchive]

Juvenile Skull in Carbon dust

[clawmarks]

This super creepy looking thing is an ophthalmetrope, “an apparatus for demonstrating the movements of the eye and action of the different muscles which produce them.” Because that’s obviously a thing that people need.

Aloe’s illustrated and priced catalogue of superior surgical instruments, physician’s supplies and hospital furnishings - 1893 - via Internet Archive

[tattrx]

Brücius | San Francisco California USA  “For a dentist from Korea with a good sense of humor, a taste for macabre and the scientific illustration style… not everyone’s taste ;)”

tumblr: bruciustattoo​ [email protected]

[operatory5]

Proteus Syndrome

[biomedicalephemera]

One of three active bloodletting photographs known to exist, in the Burns Archive. I love the tinting of the blood on this.

Bloodletting has been used medicinally for over 3000 years.

[scioddities-deactivated20160901]

Another little souvenir from the #muttermuseum : Siamese babies #medecine #wetspecimen #anatomy #freaky #teratology #abnormality #curiosities #oddities #baby (à Mütter Museum)

[elliotstrash-deactivated2018070]

Selfie

[pinkoddity73]

[ryanmatthewcohn-deactivated2016]

Set of 3 Civil War era “Fleams” used for opening a Vein for bloodletting. The two larger ones are signed with maker’s marks. All are brass with steel blades. Great addition to any oddities collection. Price is $350 for the set. To purchase please D.M or Email me at [email protected]. #oddities #antiquemedicaltools #surgicaltools #wunderkammer #anatomy #anatomical #medicalantiques #medicalhistory #bloodletting

[scioddities-deactivated20160901]

Antique dissected and articulated child skull showing the permanent and temporary teeth from #Tramond à Paris. Note the dual labeling (handwritten signature + original paper label). Personal collection #cabinetofcuriosities #oddities #tramond #osteology #humanskull #childskull #teeth #dissected #humanbones

[operatory5]

Are you still active?

I post here and there. I am a busy dental student, so I can’t promise regular updates.

[ancient-serpent]

Cimitero delle Fontanelle, Napoli, Italy

from the book La Veglia Eterna (The Eternal Sleep) by Ivan Cenzi, Carlo Vannini