The Quackery and Discovery box is a challenging collection of objects and archives relating to medical discovery. Many times in history, medical pretenders known as quacks attempted to sell items and objects that appeared to be medical, but were actually useless (or even dangerous) in healing an ailing patient. Students will be required to critically think about whether many of the objects in the box are a result of medical innovation or quackery. Objects include a ceramic phrenology bust, cupping cups, a bleeding bowl (with a leech!), and a sample of a carbolic suture from the 1800s.
Contents of our Quackery and Discovery box (PDF)
If you would like to borrow this box to use in your classroom, please email museum@rcpe.ac.uk to start the process.
This project would not have been possible without the support of volunteers. Thank you to those who helped with the behind-the-scenes development: Sarah Takhar, Stephanie Tierney & logo design by Millie Jane Smith
Downloads
In Someone Else's Shoes Worksheet