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Universitat de
València Scientific and Medical Collection
2. Medicine and society.
Opening 5 June
College of Medicine and Dentistry
(Avenida Blasco Ibáñez no. 15)
Opening hours: From Monday to Friday, from 9 to 20 h |
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A project by Universitat de València
Organised by Department for Culture and Equality,
Universitat de València
In cooperation with López Piñero Institute of History of
Medicine and Science, and College of Medicine and
Dentistry
Curator: Josep Lluís Fresquet
Technical coordinators: Norberto Piqueras and Maite
Ibáñez
This permanent exhibition includes a wide and
significant selection of exhibits from the Medical and
Scientific Collection of the University of València. In
a new exhibition area at the College of Medicine and
Dentistry, the show comes to complement the university’s
exhibition ‘Scientific and Medical Collection 1: Science
and Society’ held at Palau de Cerveró. This singular
collection is thus presented in two complementary
exhibitions at two closely linked university sites. |
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Cystoscope, first third of the 20th century.
[Cystoscopy allows the physician to see the inside of
the urinary bladder and the urethra] |
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The collection dates back to the 1970s, its origin being
the work carried out by Prof. López Piñero. The
initially modest collection consisted of objects and
instruments that belonged to the College and the
Teaching Hospital. Thanks to the dedication and efforts
of generations of lecturers and collaborators who worked
in the institution over the past forty years, and as the
collection grew with generous private and institutional
donations, a great many temporary exhibitions have been
possible. |
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Naegele forceps (Franz Karl Naegele, 1778-1851), second
half 20th century |
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But unfortunately, in Spain scientific and technological
heritage has not been given the same treatment as
architecture or art. And the situation still remains
imbalanced. When Prof. López Piñero created the
collection, apart from safeguarding the heritage, he put
the institution at the same level as the best History of
Medicine institutes in Europe at the time. Most of them
already relied on material and iconographic sources as
well as printed and oral materials, archives and direct
observation. Therefore, the original goal of the
collection was to be useful at two levels: education and
research. Nowadays, in a situation of deep crisis and
with a change in values, many of these institutional
collections –models in the past– are almost ‘dead’ and
kept to a minimum, hence the importance of the
University’s search for a different solution. |
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Photograph of Francisco Paula Terrada’s gynaecological
practice. Examination table, c. 1920 |
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The materials exhibited are intended to show a selection
of scientific and medical heritage on the one hand, and
to illustrate the milestones of Valencian medicine and
the Medical College, on the other.
The two great traditions of Valencia are morphology and
therapeutics. The exhibition starts by addressing the
first one, making reference to the importance of the
Vesalian movement in Valencia and to the meaning at the
time of Crisóstomo Martínez’ Atlas anatómico, the
work undertaken by Gómez Alamá, and Santiago Ramón y
Cajal’s stay in our city and its consequences. Sections
on Darwinism and therapeutics can be seen at López
Piñero Institute of History of Medicine and Science, at
the Palace of Cerveró. |
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Ombredanne inhaler (Louis Ombredanne, 1871-1956) for
surgical aesthetics, first half 20th century |
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The second part of the exhibition is intended to
illustrate how two apparently opposed trends –hospital
and laboratory medicine– were assimilated in Valencia.
As a common denominator, Laín Entralgo’s idea of the
three ‘mentalities’ of pathology and clinical medicine
is used: anatomo-clinical, physiopathological and
etiological. In this way, viewers can see the three
strata upon which contemporary medicine was erected.
This section also includes elements related to the
cholera epidemic that hit Valencia in 1885 and to the
vaccine developed by Ferrán. |
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Schimmelbusch-Esmarch inhaler, c. 1890-1910 |
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Surgery also has a long tradition in Valencia, one that
can be tracked down to the period that preceded the
foundation of the university. The next exhibition areas
are devoted to it, with exhibits before and after the
so-called Surgical Revolution. Anaesthesia, haemostasis,
antisepsis, and sepsis slowly entered the scene and
changed the way operating theatres looked. New surgical
avenues were opened up. The next section is about the
construction of medical-surgical specialities. The
invention of new instruments and the improvement of
technology were responsible for the emergence of
ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynaecology,
otolaryngology and urology. Interesting materials from
of all of such fields are shown, particularly from the
inter-war period. Finally, the exhibition also includes
dentistry, a degree also taught at the college.
As a useful teaching and learning element, a display
cabinet shows human evolution and illustrates lesions
typical in paleopathology or the study of ancient
diseases through skeletal remains. |
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Tzanck apparatus for blood transfusion (Arnault Tzanck,
1886-1954), first third 20th century |
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The exhibition is completed by busts, commemorative
plaques, and the Collection of medical matter and large
instruments, like the first electronic microscope used
in La Fe Hospital.
In sum, the exhibition offers a selection of pieces that
illustrate how Medicine developed in Valencia ever since
the Renaissance, special attention being paid to
original production and the assimilation of major trends. |
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Portrait of Santiago Ramón y Cajal using the microtome,
1884-1887 |
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Zeiss slit lamp and corneal microscope, devised by Alvar
Gullstrand (1862-1930), early 20th century |
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Selection of ophthalmoscopes, late 19th
century - early 20th century |
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MIRALLES, comparative chart of meteorological and
telluric variations and evolution of the 1885 cholera
epidemic in Valencia, lithograph, 1885 |
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