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In sickness and in health
PA55/07 — March 28 2007
In Britain today the average person expects to live a long and healthy life. But in previous centuries disease and poor medical services meant that public healthcare was a hit and miss affair, with preventions and cures often doing more damage than the illness itself. The uncertainties which faced the public are clearly demonstrated in the University's extensive collections of family archives, hospital records, and early medical text books — as are the fascinating discoveries and developments in medical science that have led to today's high standards in healthcare.
A new exhibition — In Sickness and in Health: An Historical Perspective on Medical Matters — illustrates both scientific progress, such as Jenner's development of inoculation as a preventative for smallpox, and the private experience of individuals and families as they sought remedies for illness. It draws on the historic records of the Nottingham General Hospital to show how nursing and health care was delivered locally.
Items of particular interest include
- Late nineteenth-century photograph of a ward at Nottingham General Hospital
- Seventeenth century designs for artificial mechanical limbs and an illustration of the treatment for a dislocated knee by Ambrose Parey
- Souvenirs from a career in nursing, including items of uniform
- Margaret Willoughby's book of remedies and recipes, dated 1737
Sarah Colborne, archives assistant in the University's Manuscripts and Special Collections department and one of the curators of the exhibition, said: "We hope visitors will enjoy this small but fascinating selection of items covering a huge subject area. Some exhibits may bring back memories for those who spent time as a member of staff or a patient at Nottingham General Hospital. Other exhibits, which remind us of the sometimes brutal medical techniques of years gone by, may leave visitors feeling somewhat queasy — but don't let that put you off!”
The exhibition runs from Thursday 5 April to Sunday 22 July at the Weston Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre.
Three lunchtime talks accompany this exhibition. Each will be held in the Performing Arts Workshop Space in the DH Lawrence Pavilion and start at 1pm. Admission to all talks is free, but book tickets with the Lakeside Box Office on 0115 846 7777 to ensure attendance as spaces are limited.
- Wednesday 25 April: 'Ailments and Remedies'. Herbal remedies and early medical advice, as discovered in local family and health archives, are described by staff from Manuscripts and Special Collections.
- Wednesday 16 May 2007: 'Memories of a Nurse'. Reverend Pauline Jenkins, chairperson of the Nottingham Nurses League, shares memories from her experience in local Nottinghamshire hospitals.
- Wednesday 20 June 2007: 'Infant mortality'. Dr Denise Amos, local historian, discusses the implications of Nottinghamshire records of infant mortality in the late 19th and early 20th century.
For more information on the exhibition and other events taking place at the Lakeside Arts Centre, visit www.lakesidearts.org
— Ends —
Images from the exhibition are available, including a 19th century ward photograph from the Nottingham General Hospital.
Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham is Britain's University of the Year (The Times Higher Awards 2006). It undertakes world-changing research, provides innovative teaching and a student experience of the highest quality. Ranked by Newsweek in the world's Top 75 universities, its academics have won two Nobel Prizes since 2003. The University is an international institution with campuses in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and China.
More information is available from Sarah Colborne on +44 (0)115 951 4619, sarah.colborne@nottingham.ac.uk; or Tara de Cozar, Internal Communications and Media Relations Officer in the Public Affairs Office at The University of Nottingham, on +44 (0)115 846 8545, tara.decozar@nottingham.ac.uk |
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